Chichester Festival Theatre offers free bus scheme to boost visitors' access

Meanwhile, the theatre’s free companion service, CFT Buddies, is to pilot a ‘travel buddies’ initiative, sponsored by Vitale Care, to assist patrons who cannot travel alone or by public transport to the venue.

It will be available to anyone living in a 45-minute drive of Chichester, with the buddies enlisted to collect audience members from their home, take them to the theatre, keep them company during the show, assist with any needs that present themselves during the performance and drive them home afterwards.

Organisers said the scheme was ideally suited for those with access needs; those who were elderly or socially isolated; autistic, neurodivergent or people with a learning disability; or anyone who felt anxious about making a solo theatre trip.

Ben Geering, head of customer operations at CFT, said: "We know that a theatre visit doesn’t simply begin and end with the rise and fall of the curtain; getting to and from the theatre is a real issue for many people.

"We hope that both these free initiatives will help address those needs, as well as encouraging more sustainable travel."