Hundreds of children and adults across Chichester have enjoyed live theatre over the past month thanks to a cultural partnership in the city.
More than 450 people watched That Pesky Rat, performed as part of the Culture Spark project, a collaboration between Chichester District Council, Chichester Festival Theatre and Pallant House Gallery.
The initiative is designed to broaden access to the arts, opening up learning opportunities while highlighting themes of empathy and belonging.
The production, staged at The Nest at Chichester Festival Theatre, tells a funny yet touching story of a street rat searching for a home. It explores themes of kindness, inclusion, and identity, encouraging audiences to reflect on community and compassion.
Performances were also taken into the community, including five local schools: Tangmere Academy, Petworth Primary, Portfield Academy, St Joseph’s School, and Jessie Younghusband School. Additional shows were staged in partnership with the Think 18 Charity and at the Chichester Canal Trust.
Organisers say the project has helped bring the magic of theatre to new audiences, creating opportunities for young people to engage with the arts in creative and meaningful ways.
"I'm so pleased that the Culture Spark project has been able to offer so many people the chance to experience this meaningful story," says Cllr John Cross, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Place at Chichester District Council. "The play fostered empathy and understanding, and it was great to see so many young people connect with it. For many, this was their first experience of live theatre, offering a fun and imaginative way to learn. The free public performance at the Canal Trust was also a resounding success, bringing together communities from across the district."
A teacher at the Jessie Younghusband school says: "I wanted to thank you and the cast for a superb performance this afternoon — the children were completely enthralled throughout and really loved it. We feel very fortunate to have been involved and delighted that our children have had the chance to experience live theatre."
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