page_title: Culture of Reading, Berkshire
section_title: Theatre
hierarchical_section_title: Culture of Reading, Berkshire / Theatre
caption_attribution_description: English: Looking along the western end of a not-particularly-inspiring concrete pedestrianised part of town, rather exotically named San Francisco Libre Walk, alongside the Civic Centre (on the left). The Hexagon is a former mainstay of the professional snooker circuit, hosting the Grand Prix from 1979 to 1993 as well as a couple of televised events at the turn of the century.
context_page_description: Reading is a town in the English county of Berkshire.
context_section_description: Reading theatre venues include the Hexagon and 21 South Street, which are professional venues supported by Reading Borough Council. The Hexagon is a multi-purpose venue in the heart of Reading that provides rock, pop, comedy, classical music and dance as well as theatre. Performances have included Reel Big Fish and their mix of ska-punk as well as comedy from Russell Howard. South Street presents performing arts from both the professional and community sectors, including fringe theatre, comedy, music, dance and live literature.
  Amateur theatre venues in Reading include Progress Theatre, a self-governing, self-funding theatre group and registered charity founded in 1947 that operates and maintains its own 97-seat theatre. Progress Theatre produces a yearly open air Shakespeare production in Caversham Court Gardens, having previously occupied the Reading Abbey Ruins.
  Golden Globe- and Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet was born and brought up in Reading. Her ex-husband, award-winning director Sam Mendes, was also born in Reading.
  Reading is also home to the Rep College. Established in 1997 it is based at the Rising Sun Arts Centre in Silver Street. It is a professional training college for actors and produces 14 public shows each year.
caption: The Hexagon viewed from San Francisco Libre Walk
exif: {}