Why has Chichester become such a producing powerhouse for the musical?

Artistic director Jonathan Church puts it down to several factors – not least the thrust stage at the Festival Theatre.

“It helps with the choreography – it’s like going to see a 3D film at the cinema,” says Church, highlighting the influence Mack And Mabel choreographer Stephen Mear has had on many of Chichester’s biggest exports.

“If you’re making a musical the costume and scene changes can take a long time. With a thrust stage you don’t have a lot of scenery to change, so the story flows. We have got using the space down to a fine art.”

He admits sometimes the move from thrust to traditional proscenium arch stages in the West End can change a production when it leaves Chichester.

“Gypsy benefitted from the proscenium arch – we had to build an orchestra pit in Chichester,” says Church. “But I never felt Singin’ In The Rain was as good in London – it didn’t feel as exciting as when we had an audience seeing the rain on three sides.”

The musical itself is a perfect summer vehicle – both for the size of the space at Chichester and the audience.

“It plays to a family audience,” says Church. “We watch parents and grandparents bring their children.

“About 80 per cent of musicals are about lifting the spirits – and I think that combines with the sun shining and people coming for an uplifting experience.”

This year Church announced he and executive director Alan Finch were set to leave Chichester at the end of the 2016 festival.

“It was a phenomenally difficult decision to make for both of us,” he says.

“Chichester is a wonderful place to work, the audience has been really supportive. I think delivering the new building [the multi-million Chichester Festival Theatre Renew project which was completed in 2014] meant we stayed here longer than we might have normally.

“I think we both believe you can stay somewhere for too long – theatres thrive on energy. We have been the longest-serving management the theatre has ever had. It’s time for a couple of 30-somethings with a lot of energy to shake things up and build on what we have achieved.

“Both of us felt we arrived as a team, and so should go as a team.”

Church is setting up his own independent production company, supported by Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, which will continue to take his work into the West End and beyond.

But before then is the 2016 festival, which Church admits he is relishing.

“It gives us time to get used to the idea,” he says. “We can think about how we can celebrate our time here. We’re looking at contacting some of the people we have worked with before who have been special to us. And there are a number of new plays we have commissioned – which if they don’t get done next year then might not get made at all! It focuses the mind...”