Latest news
All the latest news and updates from across the arts, culture and heritage community in Reading.
Whiteknights Studio Trail plays its role in the Reading Climate Festival 2023
Whiteknights Studio Trail (WST) is back! Now in its 23rd year – taking place over the weekend of Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 June with makers and artists welcoming visitors to their open studios and venues. With a distinctly ‘green’ theme for this year’s Whiteknights Studio Trail, several artists, over a range of media and materials are keen to show how they respond to the climate crisis and want to inspire others to ‘do their bit’ to tackle climate change.
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West End Stars Announced For Reading Rep’s West End Experience
Reading Rep Theatre has announced that West End stars Lizzie Bea (Sister Act, Heathers) and Josh Barnett (Anything Goes, Newsies) will be mentors for the theatre’s summer school, Reading Rep’s West End Experience. The one-week musical theatre summer camp, which will be led by Amy Ambrose (Peter Pan) with assistance from Musical Director Patrick Stockbridge (Blood Brothers), will see participants work with professional West End Stars, from shows including Newsies, Kinky Boots, Sister Act, Anything Goes and many more, towards a professional performance on Reading Rep’s main stage to share with friends and family.
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Ray Mears announced as part of Reading Climate Festival
Global nature authority Ray Mears will deliver a unique talk in Reading this summer against the stunning backdrop of the world-famous earth artwork Gaia. His specially created guide to “our spaceship we travel on” will show how we are connected to every living thing on earth, and forms part of this year's Reading Climate Festival.
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World famous Earth artwork created from NASA imagery comes to Reading this summer
Visitors to Reading Town Hall will get a unique opportunity to view planet Earth as it appears from space when the world famous Gaia globe comes to town this summer. Luke Jerram's replica artwork of planet Earth – which has visited Singapore, Australia and a host of European cities – comes to Reading from Saturday 10 June to Sunday 18 June.
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Berkshire Maestros fundraising to create musical opportunities for all
Berkshire Maestros are raising funds for Soundbeam equipment to create more musical opportunities for all in their music centres and across schools. Soundbeam creates endless opportunities for music making for students with disabilities including offering a chance for them to fully express themselves musically, often for the very first time.
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Broad smiles on Broad Street
A total of £7,900, and counting, has been raised at Launchpad’s annual Pancake Race which saw teams batter it out on Broad Street on Shrove Tuesday, 21 February 2023.
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Reading Flies the Purple Flag Again in 2023
Reading town centre businesses are officially celebrating after receiving news that its vibrant night-time economy (ENTE) has been awarded the prestigious Purple Flag accreditation. The award, which is similar to the Blue Flag for beaches, aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between the hours of 5pm to 5am.
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New walks festival for Reading
REDA, Reading’s Economy and Destination Agency, has launched the first Reading Walks Festival. Across five days, over 40 guided walks will bring to life the stories, heritage, wildlife and landscapes of Reading and the surrounding countryside. Led by local volunteers, the Reading Walks Festival takes place between 10-14 May 2023 with the majority of the walks being offered free of charge.
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Council Successful in Bid to Revitalise Hexagon and Central Library
READING Council has been awarded £19.1 million to revitalise Reading’s cultural offer by transforming the much-loved Hexagon Theatre and building a modern new Central Library. The Council is one of a number of local authorities to be awarded the money as part of the Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ funding pot, announced yesterday (Jan 18).
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Hours of taped talks with Samuel Beckett get new home
Private recordings of playwright, novelist and poet Samuel Beckett, hidden away for three decades, have been donated to the University of Reading’s Beckett archive, the largest collection of materials relating to the Nobel prize-winning author in the world.
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The Gin & Rum Festival is coming back with a few treats in store for all its attendees
The UK’s largest touring Gin & Rum festival will be returning to The Great Hall in Reading on the 29th July - and they have some big plans for 2023, which doesn’t include rising their ticket prices!
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Our Domain project submitted for planning approval
The Our Domain Team is delighted to announce that the three-dimensional public artwork Mantlepiece is now being submitted for planning approval. The application represents the final stage in a collaborative and participatory art project that launched last October.
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HRH Prince Edward, The Earl Of Wessex announced as Royal Patron for Reading Rep Theatre
HRH Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex, has today been announced as the Royal Patron for the multi-award-winning professional theatre Reading Rep. The Earl of Wessex joins the theatre as it celebrates its 10th anniversary and one year since the opening of its new 163-seat theatre and cultural hub, which was built and opened during the pandemic.
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Reading Council wins prestigious national accolade for Reading Arts & Venues
READING BOROUGH COUNCIL’S Sports, Leisure and Cultural Service team has been announced as the winner at the APSE, Association for Public Service Excellence Service Awards.
The national awards recognises the best and most innovative local authorities, focusing on the delivery of frontline services and seeks to celebrate those councils who are achieving excellent results in a wide range of different service areas.
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