Readings of Ratigan

There will be six rehearsed readings of some of Rattigan’s lesser-known plays presented over a series of Sundays in Chichester’s Minerva Theatre this summer - part of the CFT’s celebration of the playwright in his centenary year.

On the main-house stage, Anthony Calf and Amanda Root feature in Rattigan’s The Deep Blue Sea from July 13-September 3; Jonathan Hyde and Malcolm Sinclair lead the cast in Rattigan’s Nijinsky by Nicholas Wright, based on a screenplay by Rattigan (July 19-September 3).

Over in the Minerva, the rehearsed readings will be a chance to take things further.

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First Episode (1933), directed by Philip Franks, July 31, 3pm.Written with Philip Heimann while Rattigan was still at Oxford, this play depicts the devastating impact of a visiting actress upon a group of undergraduates.

In Praise of Rattigan, directed by and featuring Penelope Keith. August 7, 3pm. An entertainment devised by Jack Tinker and Martin Tickner.

Adventure Story (1949), directed by Tim Hoare. August 14, 3pm. One of Rattigan’s own favourite plays - never produced since its premiere - this sweeping historical drama is the story of Alexander the Great, who conquers the world and loses his soul.

Variation On A Theme (1958), directed by Michael Oakley. August 21, 3pm. Rattigan’s retelling of the story of Camille, in which Marguerite Gaultier falls hopelessly in love with a bisexual dancer much younger than herself.

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Heart to Heart (1962), directed by Philip Franks. September 4, 3pm. During the course of a live interview, an eminent politician is forced to reveal the truth about his political and personal life. This prophetic play is based on the television interview programme Face To Face hosted by John Freeman from 1959-1962.

Harlequinade (1949), directed by Angus Jackson. September 25, 6pm. This humourous caricature of post-war theatre life was originally performed in a double bill with The Browning Version, which plays this season in the Minerva Theatre.

Tickets for each reading will be £5.

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