Chichester Festival Theatre cancelled a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream after a cast member was physically pursued and attacked in Chichester. The incident has deeply shocked the company and led to a temporary disruption in the production’s run.

Chichester Festival Theatre was forced to cancel the evening performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Tuesday 13 October after a member of the cast was aggressively hounded and physically pursued through the centre of town. The venue described the incident as an “appallingly abusive attack” that left the cast member and company “extremely shaken”.

Justin Audibert, artistic director at Chichester Festival Theatre, addressed the audience before the cancellation was announced. Tickets holders will be contacted by the box office to arrange refunds or return visits.

The theatre confirmed that the cast member involved is not physically injured, but the police are now handling the investigation, limiting the details that can be released. Performances are expected to resume from Wednesday and continue until the run concludes on Saturday.

The statement from Chichester Festival Theatre expressed profound sadness and dismay over the attack, emphasising that the majority of the local community shares their repugnance. The theatre pledged full support to the affected actor and to their wider company going forward.

This incident highlights ongoing concerns about the safety and wellbeing of performers when offstage, underscoring the challenges faced by theatre companies in ensuring a secure environment for their artists.