Comedian and actor Munya Chawawa has publicly detailed experiencing significant racial, xenophobic, and homophobic abuse during a six-week run of *A Midsummer Night’s Dream* at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Chawawa, who played the role of Bottom, described the level of hostility he witnessed and encountered in Chichester as unprecedented in his life.

Following the production, which concluded recently, Chawawa took to social media to share his observations. He stated that the volume of discriminatory behavior he saw and experienced during those weeks surpassed anything he had previously encountered. Among the incidents he recounted were students from the Brit School attending the performance being subjected to racial slurs by passersby, including a car driving past and shouting “blackies,” and a cyclist calling one of the show’s visitors the N-word.

The troubling climate culminated in a performance cancellation on October 13 after a cast member was reportedly “aggressively hounded and physically pursued through the centre of Chichester,” according to a statement from the theatre. Sussex Police are currently investigating the incident as a homophobic hate crime.

Chawawa, 33, also described the experience of being openly stared at on the streets during the production’s run, contributing to an atmosphere he described as hostile and intimidating. The theatre has expressed that it is “appalled and profoundly saddened” by the events and has committed to exploring measures to address such behavior and support their artists and audiences.

As investigations continue, the incidents have sparked wider discussion about safety and inclusivity in local communities hosting cultural events.