Hexagon - 21 South Street - Concert Hall, Reading

Box office

0118 960 6060, Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm. Directions to the Hexagon and maps showing the three locations are here.
The Hexagon, Queens Walk, Reading RG1 7UA. A seating plan is here (big PDF file).
21 South Street, Reading RG1 4QU.
The Concert Hall, Blagrave Street, Reading.

Performances are at the Hexagon unless another venue is given.

Next

Postman Pat Live, 1st September, 13:00 and 15:30 at The Hexagon
Postman Pat returns to The Hexagon as the newly promoted Head of the Special Delivery Service (or SDS) with his brand new show... A Very Royal Mission. In Pencaster, everyone has received a letter from the Palace, delivered by Pat and his faithful cat Jess, of course. Someone special is coming to open the brand new SDS Sorting Office and they only have a short time to get themselves, and Pencaster, prepared for a very royal visit. Mrs Goggins, Ted Glen and Ben Taylor are helping with the preparations, while PC Selby finally has something important to do! What could possibly go wrong...? But look out! Just as everything is prepared a storm hits Pencaster throwing the royal visit into doubt. Only one man can be counted on – the Head of the SDS, Postman Pat of course... with a little help from his trusty sidekick Jess the Cat and his brand new SDS Helicopter! Get ready for take-off and join Pat and his friends in 90-minutes of fun and participation, and remember no job is too big – the special delivery always gets through!  Mission Accomplished!

Annie, 6th to 11th September, 19.30 and 14:30 on Wednesday and Saturday
From its Broadway beginnings to the classic film musical, this heart-warming rags-to-riches story of Annie’s adventures, from the New York orphanage to the luxurious home of Oliver Warbucks, is a tale that has been told all over the world for decades and will continue for many years to come.

Vampire Hospital, 14th to 15th September, 19:30 at South Street
Vampires don’t love you. Vampires don’t care. Vampires don’t sparkle. Vampires don’t call. Still... Sexy eyes. When what we want is bad for us we want it more. Exiled Theatre and Theale Green School return to South Street with this horrifying homage to the Vampire Mythos from Hammer to Twilight that mixes puppetry, physical theatre and black comedy.

Disco Inferno, 14th to 18th September, 19:30 at The Hexagon
It’s the summer of 1976. Outside, the weather is as hot as the fashion and passion on the dance floor and Jack is about to celebrate a 21st birthday he’ll never forget. Working late in a London dance club, ‘Disco Inferno’, Jack meets Lady Marmalade - the devil’s right hand lady. Dreaming of becoming successful, he makes a Faustian pact with her, trading his soul to fulfil his wildest fantasies. Sounds like an ideal bargain? Think again. He becomes an instant and international success. However, success proves hollow. Jack has fame and fortune but is losing his girlfriend, Jane. If only he could turn back time and make one more trade, trading all he has for something far more important... love.

Charlie and Lola's Best Bestest Play, 27th to 28th September, daytime at The Hexagon
I have this little sister Lola. She is small and very funny… Don’t miss everyone’s favourite brother and sister, Charlie and Lola, in their extremely everso wonderful stage show! The stars of the hit BBC TV series and books by Lauren Child are brought to life by a magical mix of puppets, live action and music. 2-D and 3-D worlds mingle as we find out if Lola will ever tidy her messy room or if Charlie will get Lola to sleep, even though she is not sleepy and will not go to bed. Who knew there were so many problems to overcome first? The Tigers want their bedtime milk, the Dancing Dogs have borrowed Lola’s pyjamas – not to mention the Ogre in the wardrobe! Ideal for ages 3+. 1 hour 10 minutes including interval.

Twinkle Twonkle, 24th October, 11:30 and 14:00 at South Street
Stella loves the stars. Every evening she gazes at them through her telescope. But one night her little brother Ryan wishes on a star, extends the telescope all the way and starts climbing up it. Stella follows him. But something is wrong in the night sky. There’s Pegasus the flying horse - but there’s also a cow jumping over the moon. And the Great Bear and the Little Bear have been joined by a medium-sized bear. Age 4 upwards.

Arabian Nights, 26th to 27th October, 11:30 and 14:00 at South Street
It's amazing what you can find when you really look hard! Here we have three tales from the Queen of all storytellers - the incredible Sheherazade. The first tale she found was hidden in the sands of the desert; the second at the bottom of the ocean, and the third she heard straight from the donkey's mouth! Genies, camels, flying carpets, and suspicious ne'er-do-wells - welcome to the world of the Arabian Nights. Theatre of Widdershins takes you on an exciting journey through roasting deserts, sand dunes, scented markets and fish filled seas, using puppets, masks, storytelling and wonderfully atmospheric music. Suitable for children 5+.

Cinderella Ashputtel, 28th October, 11:30 and 14:00 at South Street
"She had no bed to lie down on, but was made to lie by the hearth among the ashes; and then, as she was of course always dusty and dirty, they called her Ashputtel." The Brothers Grimm. Banyan’s stylish and playful reworking of the Cinderella story explores its powerful fascination in a fresh and imaginative adaptation, which will delight both young and old.

Tell Me on a Sunday, 5th November, 19:30 at The Hexagon
A rare opportunity to see the definitive version of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black’s classic musical. Tell Me on a Sunday charts the romantic misadventures of a young English girl in New York. Brimming with optimism, she seeks success and love. But as she weaves her way through the maze of the city and her own anxieties, frustrations and heartaches she begins to wonder whether she's been looking for love in all the wrong places.

The Night Pirates, 7th November, 11:30 and 14:00 at South Street
When dark shadows come stealing down Tom's bedroom walls he thinks it might be monsters or ogres or trolls. But Tom's not afraid, for he's a brave little boy. So he peeps out of the window and what should he see but PIRATES. Stranger still they're GIRL PIRATES, stealing the front of his house! Tom joins the Girl Pirates on their daring adventure across the high seas to an island where Captain Patch and his really rough, tough grown-up pirates are guarding their treasure. Can Tom and his new friends outwit the snoozing, snoring pirates and steal their booty?

Peppa Pig's Party, 13th to 14th November, daytime at The Hexagon
Oink oink - it's Peppa Pig! Peppa is a playful little piggy who lives with her younger brother George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig. Through everyday adventures she plays games, makes new friends and enjoys her absolute favourite activity – jumping up and down in muddy puddles! Today it’s a bright and sunny day. It’s a very special day. It’s Peppa Pig's birthday. Come and join the fun with Peppa and George, Suzy Sheep, Danny Dog and Emily Elephant. A charming, original and imaginative show, full of brand new songs, muddy puddles, and oinks!

Strictly Musicals, 13th to 14th November at Concert Hall
This Autumn, The Sainsbury Singers invite you to a night of unrivalled musical splendour - Strictly Musicals. Packed with songs from the most current West End and Broadway hits, it promises to be an evening of emotion, excitement and extravagance!

Sleeping Beauty, 4th December to 2nd January at The Hexagon
Continuing the tradition of spectacular family panto at the Hexagon, Imagine Theatre is delighted to present one of the best loved pantomimes around, Sleeping Beauty, an enchanting mix of music, magic, adventure and pantomime fun. Join us for this sparkling production with all the usual pantomime ingredients – spectacular scenery and sparkling costumes, corny jokes, hilarious slapstick and bags of audience participation.

Review of Cinderella

5th December 2009 to 3rd January 2010.

The British Theatre Guide has a review here: "a production full of heart from a team who, rightly or wrongly, keep pantomime very 'traditional' for a modern audience".

For more details

see the Reading Arts web site at www.readingarts.com.