Rupert Everett, Joshua McGuire

Chichester’s Festival Theatre reopens in July with a new production of Amadeus, featuring West End and Hollywood star Rupert Everett alongside acclaimed young actor Joshua McGuire.

Everett will be the very first actor to be seen by an audience on the Festival Theatre stage following the £22 million redevelopment of the Grade II* listed building. Everett plays embittered court composer Salieri.

Amadeus is a fictionalised account of the rivalry between court composer Salieri and the young genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, set amidst the splendour of 18th century Vienna.

The multi award-winning play - later adapted into an Oscar-winning film - will be the second production by Peter Shaffer to be staged during Festival 2014. Shaffer’s Black Comedy will also run as part of the season, alongside three weekends of special events. This major celebration of Shaffer’s work reflects his importance to Chichester Festival Theatre dating back to 1964, and his wider success as one of Britain’s greatest living playwrights.