By Gillian Tunley and Brenda Sandilands.
Photo (c) Lizzy Lam
The Shinfield Players Theatre are presenting John Buchan’s and Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller The 39 Steps this week in a highly comedic adaptation by Patrick Barlow (from an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon) involving four stellar actors playing over 130 roles in over 50 locations, phew!
By Gillie Tunley and Brenda Sandilands.
Nora (Tara O’Connor) and Torvald Helmer (Chris Pett)
Progress Theatre are staging Ibsen’s timeless classic, ‘A Doll’s House’, in a lovingly crafted production by Adrian Tang. It is a play about domestic revolution and a woman’s place in society and these powerful themes resonate still today.
By Gillie Tunley and Brenda Sandilands.
‘Jerusalem’ at the Progress Theatre. Photo courtesy of the Progress Theatre.
The inspired Progress Theatre Company are staging Jerusalem, the acclaimed and award-winning play by Jez Butterworth. Tautly directed by the insightful John Goodman, it is a savagely funny and anarchic masterpiece of life in our green and pleasant land whose themes of disaffection, poverty and homelessness resonate still now.
By Gillie Tunley and Brenda Sandilands.
Blood and Ice at the Progress Theatre. Photo (c) Richard Brown
In the summer of 1816, a monster was born.
Reading Rep are staging the charming A New Coat for Christmas by Anna Glynn, directed by Owen Jenkins, with sprinklings of festive fizz and a magical musical score by Robin Colyer, directed with zest by Catriona Mackenzie. It is based on a true tale of finding friendship by Harriet Ziefert.
The accomplished Progress Youth Theatre are presenting their bold interpretation of the ancient Greek canon The Oresteia (ingeniously adapted and delicately directed by Rhys Lawton). Its themes of justice and gender equality still resonate today.
Liz Real and Martina Hildebrandt, eminent local artists, have combined their creative forces to present a fun and feisty exhibition of work at the Central Library’s HolyBrook gallery portraying eminent women of the area and also examining the compelling history of our prison.
‘Birdsong’ at the Progress Theatre. Photo (c) Richard Brown
We will remember them…
The Progress Theatre are performing Sebastian Faulks’ poignant Birdsong this week. Cleverly condensed for the stage by Rachel Wagstaff, this story of love and loss alternates between the war torn horror of 1916 and the tranquil peacetime of Amiens and is directed with great emotional insight by Steph Dewar.
By Gillie Tunley and Evelyn Williams.
Katori Hall‘s powerful play, the Olivier Award winning ‘The Mountaintop’, is being performed at Reading Rep this week, with dynamic direction by the JMK award winner Roy Alexander Weise.
By Gillie Tunley and Adam Harrington.
Mark Middleton as Henry II. Photo: Pieter Lawman Photography.
The theatre company Reading Between the Lines (RBL) present the final instalment of their Conquerors trilogy, Henry II, in the thrillingly atmospheric St Mary’s Minster, Reading, until Saturday October 27. It is the story of love and power; love between a husband and wife, a King and his former drinking buddy, and a Welsh monk and a beaver.
Jesus Christ Superstar at the Progress Theatre. Photo (c) Richard Brown.
The Progress Theatre dazzled on 12 September with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar, directed by the inspirational Andy Camichel with wonderful musical direction by Jane Southern and fabulous Band, and choral coaching by the versatile Stuart McCubbin.
This week, the Reading Rep Theatre present Carmen the Gipsy, based on the original Prosper Mérimée legend, in collaboration with the Romany Theatre Company. It is a powerful and punchy production (directed by Abigail Graham) and is infused with Romany values, featuring magnificent original music (by the inspired Dan Allum).
By Gillie Tunley and Brenda Sandilands.
‘Scenes cut from other plays.’ Photo courtesy of the Progress Theatre.
The Progress Theatre scintillated with their Scenes Cut from Other Plays (superbly scripted by Emily Goode and the Cast and mercurially directed by Rik Eke) depicting madcap tableaux and musical mayhem.
By Gillie T and Brenda Sandilands
And then the rabbit died, co-written by Atramental Theatre’s Kate Sullivan and Rory Devlin, was first performed in November last year and is still highly topical. This raw and funny play takes us through the confusing maze that is Ireland’s family planning system (or lack of, in the words of the playwrights).
By Brenda Sandilands and Gillian Tunley
Reading University Dramatic Society’s (RUDS) captivating new musical leads us into an imaginary end-of-the-world scenario. A long-lost letter which foresees the doom and destruction of the planet is discovered – is a devastating meteor on its way?
By Gillie Tunley and Adam Harrington.
Liz Chaderton: great crested grebe, fisher king, heron and kingfisher (ink, watercolour and metal leaf).
The Reading Guild of Artists (RGA) are staging their fifth summer show at the University of Reading’s Institute of Education at their London Road campus until 24 June. It features an exhibition by RGA’s talented members, highlights from the fabulous Whiteknights Studio Trail, and includes a showcase for inspirational final year work by BA Ed Art students.
By Gillie Tunley and Brenda Sandilands
Our cultural journey began at the elegant Barn in Upper Redlands Road and we admired Joy Frey’s gloriously vibrant handmade original prints and Ursula Waechter’s gorgeous brush-decorated earthenware, so reminiscent of the classic and well-loved Aldermaston pottery. We also enjoyed watching the resident hens scuttling joyously over the velvet green lawn!
By Gillie Tunley and Brenda Sandilands.
Happy Jack at the Progress Theatre. Photo (c) Richard Brown, courtesy of the Progress Theatre.
Progress Theatre are staging Happy Jack, John Godber’s timeless and touching tale (inspired by his own grandparents) of a couple in mining Yorkshire, where coal is king.
By Gillie Tunley and Brenda Sandilands.
Photo (c) Aidan Moran, Progress Theatre.
This week the inspirational Progress Theatre are staging two original plays which examine the troubled world of mental health.
By Gillie Tunley and Brenda Sandilands.
Alison Hill as ‘Kay’ in ‘Little Gem’ at the Progress Theatre. Photo (c) Richard Brown.
The Progress Theatre are performing Elaine Murphy’s tenderly crafted Little Gem next week. Steph Dewar’s warmly funny and moving production, intimately staged, employs seamlessly interwoven monologues that are delivered by three generations of working-class Irish women.
