for nudity

A theatre director is planning to spice up productions at a leading Sussex venue to attract a younger audience.

Andrew Welch, artistic director of Chichester Festival Theatre, is warning the theatre will die unless it undergoes a shake-up.

At the launch of theatre's summer programme, Mr Welch said there could be nude performances in the forthcoming season, and he did not rule out staging gay productions in the future.

He said it was vital to inject new life into the theatre with more adventurous drama from new playwrights.

He wants to build on the theatre's existing audience by attracting more younger

theatregoers and shedding its genteel image.

Mr Welch, 50, who has been artistic director for two years, said: "Unless I make changes the theatre will die.

"Things have got to change, as they must with any business, it is an

evolutionary thing."

In its heyday in the Sixties, when Laurence Olivier was artistic director, Chichester had a national reputation and regularly attracted London audiences, filling 90 per cent of seats. Today bookings are at 60 per cent and the theatre has a £550,000 deficit.

The new summer season marks the start of more adventurous scheduling with David Hare's The Blue Room. The play was a West End hit starring Nicole Kidman and Iain Glen, who both appeared naked.

The sultry film star will not be appearing in the Chichester production, which has not yet been cast. Mr Welch said it will be down to the cast and director to decide whether they will be nude for the roles.

Mr Welch said he would not rule out staging gay drama, and the controversial play Shopping and F***ing, performed last year in Brighton, in the future but has no plans to include them at the moment.

He denied national newspaper reports he had criticised Chichester's existing audience for being too old and too

conservative.

Mr Welch said: "We have extremely loyal local support from our audiences and all I want to do is add to the mix of existing audience and add more younger people."

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