Leslie Eric Evershed-Martin, CBE (1903–1991) was a British theatre manager, city councillor and optician, and founder of the Chichester Festival Theatre.
His father was a bank manager, and he trained as an optician.
[2] In 1959, Evershed-Martin founded the Chichester Festival Theatre, and then successfully raised the funding to see this 'Impossible theatre' built, in 1960.
[3] The theatre opened with Laurence Olivier as its first artistic director, and attracted a host of prominent directors during its first two decades.
[1] In July 1963 he was recognised with the award of member (serving brother) of the Order of Saint John.