Gillian Keegan MP was amongst other local representatives who met with the Queen on her visit to the Chichester Festival theatre. She was greeted by Susan Pyper, Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex before meeting dignitaries including Chichester Mayor Peter Evans, The Bishop of Chichester Dr Martin Warner and Giles York, Sussex Police chief constable.
Her Majesty the Queen watched a performance by the Chichester Youth Theatre, and two songs from 'The Fiddler on the Roof'. The Chichester Youth Theatre, is the largest regional theatre of its kind with over 800 members. This is the third trip to the theatre by The Queen who came in 1962 during its inaugural festival season, when she and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh attended a charity performance of Uncle Vanya, directed by Sir Laurence Olivier, the theatre’s first artistic director. She and the Duke returned in 1964 for a performance of Othello with Laurence Olivier and Maggie Smith.
The Queen also visited Canine Partners National Training Centre, in Midhurst in the morning. The Chichester MP Gillian Keegan is due to meet the team in the coming weeks.
Gillian Keegan said:
It was very special to have Her Majesty the Queen in Chichester and Midhurst, it was an honour to meet her and I feel extremely lucky as the last time she visited was 27 years ago. It is a testament to the quality of The Chichester Festival theatre, and in particular the youth theatre, and the amazing work of our charities like Canine Partners that The Queen to choose to visit us. I am very grateful to Her Majesty for coming and to all those whose efforts made it possible.