Chesil Theatre

CHESIL THEATRE ANNOUNCES ACCLAIMED ACTOR AND DIRECTOR PRASANNA PUWANARAJAH AS NEW PATRON

2/5/2026

Chesil Theatre, Winchester, is delighted to announce that celebrated film, television, and stage actor, director and writer Prasanna Puwanarajah has officially become a Patron of the theatre.

Known for his versatile career spanning high-profile screen roles and classical stage performances, Puwanarajah joins Chesil Theatre at an exciting period of growth as the company prepares to start construction of its expanded building and facilities.

With family connections in Winchester, Prasanna Puwanarajah’s career is marked by a unique journey from practising medicine in the NHS to becoming a fixture of British arts. He is widely recognised for his portrayal of Martin Bashir in Netflix’s The Crown and his roles in Doctor Foster, Patrick Melrose, and Ten Percent. His stage credits include roles in the West End and at the National Theatre and award-winning directing work for the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has just starred as Bernard Nightingale in the highly acclaimed production of Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia at London’s Old Vic Theatre and moves on this summer to direct 45 Years at Chichester Festival Theatre.

Paul Riddell, Chairman of Chesil Theatre, commented:
"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Prasanna as a Patron. His career embodies the dedication and excellence we strive for at Chesil Theatre. Beyond his immense talent on screen and stage, Prasanna’s commitment to the arts as a force for community and storytelling aligns perfectly with our vision. Having his support as we move into our new era is a tremendous honour for all our members."

Speaking on his appointment, Prasanna Puwanarajah said:
"Community theatre is central to British creative life. It is where stories and storytellers are first discovered and where the magic of live performance is made accessible to everyone. Chesil Theatre has a long-standing reputation for producing work of an exceptional standard and for effective and real community engagement. I am proud to support them as they continue to evolve and provide a creative home for the people of Winchester."
The appointment comes as Chesil Theatre continues its ambitious "New Chesil Theatre" project, extending the present 12th-century listed building and ensuring a vibrant, modern hub for performing arts in the community.

Music Night fundraiser coming soon

6/4/2026

Chesil Theatre Music Night – 9th May 2026

Following the very successful Chesil Theatre Music Night in February of this year, the Chesil Theatre is again opening its doors for an audience to enjoy an eclectic mix of music from Chesil Theatre members and guests, including musicians from the Ukrainian community in Winchester.

There is a special connection between the Chesil Theatre and these Ukrainian musicians. Three years ago a concert at Winchester Theatre Royal was organised and run by members of the Chesil Theatre, on behalf of Winchester City Council, to celebrate Winchester as a City of Sanctuary. This connection has continued, with a number of those Ukrainian musicians taking part in previous Chesil Theatre Music Nights.

These Music Nights are helping to raise funds for the Chesil Theatre Development Fund.

Book Now

Book now or call in to our next Open Morning on Saturday 2nd May 2026, 10:30 to 12:30. Please note: seating is unreserved

LADIES IN LAVENDER AT THE CHESIL THEATRE - A GENTLE TALE OF LONGING AND LOSS

26/3/2026

0 Comments

The poignant and bittersweet period drama Ladies In Lavender by Shaun McKkenna comes to the Chesil Theatre Winchester’s stage from 10th to 18th April 2026. Tickets are available from www.chesiltheatre.org.uk.

Based on the hit film, with screenplay by Charles Dance, starring Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, and on the original short story by William J Locke, Ladies In Lavender tells the tale of the two elderly Widdington sisters, practical Janet and whimsical Ursula, who live in a remote close-knit fishing village in Cornwall in 1937. Their younger lives have been limited in scope: they do not remember their mother, their father has now died and Janet’s fiancé was lost in the Great War.

Into their quiet existence comes a handsome stranger. Andrea is a gifted young Polish violinist, sailing to America, when he is washed overboard from his ship in a storm. Rescuing him from the beach below their house, the sisters nurse him back to health, where he comes to disrupt their peaceful lives, bringing hidden longings and regrets to the surface: the denial of romance and the promise of children. Andrea becomes an essential element in the sisters’ daily lives, but one day, will he have to leave?

Director Sarah Hawkins comments:
“Ladies In Lavender has been praised for its emotional depth and delicate exploration of the elderly spinsters’ feelings. Music, too, plays an important role, resonating throughout the action.”

Ladies In Lavender runs from 10th to 18th April 2026, nightly at 7.30pm with a matinee on Sunday 12th April at 2.30pm. Tickets are selling fast from www.chesiltheatre.org.uk

0 Comments

Chesil Theatre's TakeTen New Writing Festival a Resounding Success

8/3/2026

0 Comments

TakeTen, Chesil Theatre Winchester’s new writing festival came to the stage with five performances of ten winning ten-minute plays over the weekend 27th February to 1st March 2026. Writers, directors, judges and cast members were all able to meet and share their thoughts and ideas over the sell-out run.

All submissions to the competition were judged anonymously and when the winners were unveiled Chesil Theatre was delighted to see two previous entrants, Kathryn West and Nicky Denovan, were successful again. Entries came from across the UK and the top ten writers from Manchester, Wadebridge, Canterbury and Bedford as well as nearer home.

With a programme covering a range of theatre genres, each play had to involve a treatment of the current theme ‘Angels’ – guardian, fallen, nursing, theatrical and many other interpretations. Topics ranged from artificial intelligence to incarceration.

Local writer and actor Stephen Percy was in the audience and writes:

“What a brilliant event the Take Ten Chesil Theatre New Writing Festival has become. Launched in 2008 and now in its ninth season, this biennial event attracted over 300 hundred entries, confirming its status as a leading national showcase of new work.

Following a rigorous judging process, the top ten short dramas were performed on the Chesil Theatre stage where the full range of the company’s extensive theatrical resources were superbly deployed.

The theme of this year’s competition was “Angels”, interpreted by ten worthy finalists referencing largely contemporary themes. In a well-crafted entry, Stuck in the Middle by Kathryn West imagines the comedic comeuppances that arise in the afterlife when a previously married couple are joined by the husband’s deceased “secret” second wife. Similarly, All Fall Down by Euan Mumford sees a cheating and lying celebrity receive his just deserts from Lucifer but asks whether the devil is enjoying the retribution just a little too much.

Richard Moon also cleverly employs humour in The Unblocking of a Bladder to explore one of the more troubling political questions of our time: how do populist politicians persuade people to vote against their best interests? And how should we respond?

The absurdities and horrors of AI technology are amusingly explored in Talking to an Angel, with HJS warning us in neo-Orwellian tones what it might come to mean for our freedom. In a lighter mood, Chloe Banks in Charlene’s AIngels highlights the insidious AI threats to personal relationships. In both plays the hilariously conceived robots steal the show.

Loss of freedom is also Nicky Denovan’s theme in her tragically witty cautionary tale, Bearing Gifts, where a cash-strapped Broadway impresario unwisely borrows from a theatre angel, losing all control and self-respect in the process.

People in extremis provide fertile ground for several offerings. If I Fall by Katherine Kowalski deals movingly with a young woman (her parents’ “little angel”) struggling to find acceptance amidst strong feelings of alienation and misguided attempts to “fix” her. Amelia Stepney gave us an emotionally mature and affecting solo performance. Distress is also the subject of Stephen Mollet’s powerfully disturbing A Break in the Journey where a woman uses the “Ask for Angela” codewords in a motorway cafe when seeking protection from a coercively controlling husband.

Fallen by Conor Montague presents a man who feels his only escape is suicide after his past catches up with him, ending with a shocking twist. Finally, the relentless physical and psychological challenges that NHS nurses face daily are explored in We Move On by Kim Wiltshire, a touching reminder of the enduring debt we owe this angelic band.

I left the Chesil wondering when I had last enjoyed such a highly engaging, entertaining and thought-provoking theatrical experience.”

About the winners of TakeTen
Chloe Banks Charlene’s AIngels (Lustleigh, Devon)
Katherine Kowalksi – If I Fall (Downderry, Cornwall)
Richard Moon – The Unblocking of a Bladder (Bedford)
Kim Wiltshire – We Move On (Sale)
Conor Montague - Fallen (Tring)
HJS - Talking to an Angel (Canterbury)
Stephen Mollett - A Break in the Journey (Midhurst)
Euan Mumford – All Fall Down (Shoreham-by-sea)
Kathryn West – Stuck In The Middle (Wadebridge)
Nicky Denovan …Bearing Gifts (Reading)

About the judges
Rosanne Collinson, Head of Drama and Theatre, Peter Symonds College
Cecily O’Neill, writer, lecturer, dramaturg, Artistic Director 2Time Theatre Winchester
Danica Pickett, casting director, actor, director
Simon Plumridge, designer, director, core member Platform4 Winchester
Mark Ponsford writer, musician, actor, critic

0 Comments

Paul Riddell elected Chairman of Chesil Theatre, Winchester

11/11/2025

0 Comments

Chesil Theatre is pleased to announce the election of Paul Riddell as its new Chairman, succeeding Stephanie Danby following her impactful three-year tenure.

Paul has been a member of Chesil Theatre since 1987 performing in a wide range of productions. He has also worked as a director and contributed to the theatre’s marketing and development.

Reflecting on his new appointment, Paul shared: “I’ve always valued Chesil Theatre as a vibrant creative home. I deeply appreciate the vital role this community plays. As Chairman, I’m committed to a collaborative and transparent approach, grounded in the values that make Chesil Theatre special: artistic excellence, community engagement and inclusive opportunity, in a welcoming and friendly environment.”

Paul also paid tribute to outgoing Chairman Stephanie Danby:"On behalf of everyone at Chesil Theatre, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Stephanie for her extraordinary contribution. Her enthusiasm, skill, and talent have transformed so many aspects of our operations. Most notably, she has driven forward our plans to develop a new theatre and launched our fundraising efforts with tireless energy and vision. Stephanie’s commitment and vision have left very big boots to fill, and I am grateful for the strong and steady foundation she has provided."

As Chesil Theatre enters this exciting new chapter, the organisation continues to grow as a hub of creativity, inclusion, and artistic excellence in Winchester. Plans are underway to transform its historic home on Chesil Street — occupied since 1966 — into a state-of-the-art, 21st-century community performance centre through an ambitious £2.1 million fundraising campaign.

The proposed extension will feature a modern foyer and bar, along with a flexible studio and community space, designed to be accessible to all. Support from the community is vital to preserving Chesil Theatre’s unique heritage while shaping its future as an inclusive, dynamic centre that will inspire and entertain generations to come.

Last week, the streetscape on Chesil Street took on a vibrant new look with the unveiling of decorative hoarding, featuring winning entries from an art competition held among pupils at Winnall and All Saints primary schools. Children were invited to share their vision of a “theatre of dreams,” and their imaginative artwork now brightens the site as demolition and preparation work begins. The event was generously supported by a grant from The Arts Society Winchester, and judges faced a tough challenge selecting just two winners from a wealth of creative submissions.

Chesil Theatre’s transformation is well underway, and under Paul Riddell’s leadership, the organisation is poised to continue its legacy as a cornerstone of Winchester’s cultural life.

0 Comments

THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI AUDITIONS

7/9/2025

0 Comments

The auditions for our second 2025/26 season play will be held Sunday 7th September and Monday 8th September, at 7:30pm at the theatre.

There are 35 characters in this parable for the theatre which will be played by between 10 and 15 actors. The important aspect of the auditions is that they will be completely age and gender neutral.

New members are always welcome.

'The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui' by Bertolt Brecht, translated by George Tabori, directed by Peter Andrews will run from 14th-22nd November

#ArturoUiAtTheChesil

0 Comments

LOCAL SCHOOLS HELP CREATE THE NEW CHESIL THEATRE

8/7/2025

0 Comments

The streetscape in Chesil Street Winchester will be taking on a new look when Chesil Theatre’s development project progresses to the next stage and Winchester school children will be embellishing the scene.

Chesil Theatre’s plans include the addition of a new extension to the much-loved heritage building and the time has come to carry out demolition and preparation work to the land before construction. Winnall and All Saints primary schools were invited to enter an art competition to decorate the hoardings with their vision of a “theatre of dreams”. The event was supported by a grant from The Arts Society Winchester. The judges certainly had a difficult task choosing just two winners from the many competitors.

Andy Keenan, one of the judges and a school Governor, said: “It was a real joy to be asked to be a judge for this project. The quality of the entries was fabulous, and I feel incredibly lucky to have been invited into the imaginative worlds the children created. Everyone should be proud of what they produced!”

Another judge, Sarah Hill from The Arts Society Winchester agreed that there were budding imaginative artists amongst the children’s depictions.

A prizegiving was held on Saturday 5th July when Chesil Theatre Vice-President Gerry Tuff presented £100 to each of the schools. The two winners were Stephanie Rita Hamilton, Year 5, of All Saints Primary School and Violet Scobell, Year 6, of Winnall Primary School. They both received free tickets to the next Chesil Youth Theatre production ,(including ice-cream!) plus a gift voucher for each pupil.

Organiser Lorraine Robinson from Chesil Theatre said:“ We were overwhelmed by the number and quality of the designs created by our local children. The hoardings will certainly be much brighter and more attractive thanks to their efforts. As a community theatre, we were so pleased to have this involvement from schools in our City Ward. We are grateful to The Arts Society for their involvement and The Arc in Jewry Street for creating a display of all the work in their foyer, running from Tuesday 7th July for at least a month and we hope throughout the school holidays.”

Chesil Theatre continues its fundraising campaign for the new extension. More information and how everyone can contribute can be found on newchesiltheatre.org.

0 Comments

Proud members of The Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain and the National Operatic and Dramatic Association

The Winchester Dramatic Society, registered company 1621492 in England & Wales at the Chesil Theatre, Chesil St, Winchester. SO23 0HU.
Registered charity 285043. Limited by guarantee.
Our Privacy Policy is viewable here.

CHESIL THEATRE ANNOUNCES ACCLAIMED ACTOR AND DIRECTOR PRASANNA PUWANARAJAH AS NEW PATRON

Music Night fundraiser coming soon

LADIES IN LAVENDER AT THE CHESIL THEATRE - A GENTLE TALE OF LONGING AND LOSS

Chesil Theatre's TakeTen New Writing Festival a Resounding Success

Paul Riddell elected Chairman of Chesil Theatre, Winchester

THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI AUDITIONS

LOCAL SCHOOLS HELP CREATE THE NEW CHESIL THEATRE

Archives

Categories