Remember your first memory of the theatre? The buzz as you take your seat. The ripple of excitement that goes through the audience as the lights go down. Being wowed by the show.

We’ve been exploring that special moment, curating your memories into a special interactive exhibition in the Festival Theatre foyer. Take seat in our theatre dressing room and explore a treasure trove of memories of CFT and first encounters with theatre. Pick up the phone to hear people share how their love of theatre was first sparked.

The exhibition of course includes a trip down CFT memory lane – from the ‘Olivier Years’, to beloved pantomimes and Youth Theatre favourites. There’s personal anecdotes and unheard stories which are brought to life using videos and images from the CFT Archive.

The exhibition is part of our Light a Spark fundraising campaign – helping more people have that first special moment in the theatre. You can even take a moment to share your memory and donate to the campaign to help support a family or young person to come to CFT for the first time.

This exhibition is free to attend, located opposite the Box Office, so just drop in at a time that suits. If you've booked to see a show, why not head to CFT a little earlier to experience at the exhibition beforehand.