Progress Theatre

The Progress Theatre web site is at www.progresstheatre.co.uk. You can find details of the Youth and Student Groups there.

Next productions

Breathing Corpses, 6th to 11th September
By Laura Wade. 'When a man has lost all happiness, he’s not alive. Call him a breathing corpse' - Sophocles. Amy’s found another body in a hotel bedroom. There’s a funny smell coming from one of Jim’s storage units, and Kate’s losing it after spending all day with the police. There’s no going back after what they’ve seen. This play is like a crossword puzzle where all the clues have to do with death. It is a tight and tense, and you cannot afford to miss a single word or gesture. Please note: contains scenes and language that may offend. Not suitable for children.

Metamorphosis, 11th to 16th October
A modern approach to Steven Berkoff's Metamorphosis, inspired by Franz Kafka's renowned story. Gregor has a serious “proper” job and earns some serious money. So what that he has to work crazy hours and he hates what he does. It is a job, not a hobby, so as long as it pays well, you don’t have to love what you do. But one day Gregor decides to see what it would be like to just be yourself and do what you like. So what does his family think when he has transformed into a gigantic beetle-like insect?

Writefest, 4th to 6th November
This fifth annual showcase for new writing premieres contemporary work by local writers and those from further afield. Comedy, tragedy, drama and fun - there is something for everyone in this entertaining evening. Based on the success of previous events this promises to be a highlight in the Progress season so book early and don't miss out!

Ajax, 25th November to 4th December
By Sophocles. Blood, Guns and Greek Tragedy! Bringing one of the epic tales of the Trojan War into a modern setting, a powerful look at what it means to be a soldier. Ajax is an honourable hero, overcome by pride, who feels betrayed by those who led him to war. What impact does a soldier's life have on those dearest to him? Who is ultimately responsible for his actions? How should he be honoured after death? The same questions 3,000 years on.

The Ash Girl, 10th to 16th January
By Timberlake Wertenbaker. A dark re-telling of the much-loved Cinderella story. Ash Girl’s father has been drawn into the woods to do battle with his demon. Resident in the woods are the 7 deadly sins whose aim is to tempt and to trap any humans who pass. Ash Girl lives in the ashes – when she comes out she is taunted by her step-sisters. There’s a Prince, of course, but can Ash Girl escape the clutches of Sadness to see herself as she really is and find her true love?

Of Mice and Men, 10th to 19th February
By John Steinbeck. Written by the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winner, this most moving of plays portrays the often, brutal lives of economic itinerant migrant workers, during the great depression of the 1930’s. Quick-witted, short-tempered George devotes his life to protecting his boyhood friend, the simple-minded, but immensely strong Lennie. Like all the other characters in the play they have the great ‘American Dream’ of their own place without the fear of hunger or homelessness. The final tragedy reminds us that the love of our fellow man is the true measure of the human spirit.

Where

Progress Theatre
The Mount, Christchurch Road, Reading RG1 5HL
Click here for a map.

Box Office

0118 960 6060, or via the web site at www.progresstheatre.co.uk.
Admin: 0870 774 3490.

Review of Five Children and It!

29th December 2008 to 10th January 2009.

From the Newbury Weekly News.

Five go back to childhood Five Children and It, at Progress Theatre, Reading, from December 29 to January 10 This E. Nesbit novel is the enchanting tale of five children and their discovery of a sand fairy who grants them wishes. It tells of the adventures that the children have and how they learn to be careful of what they wish for. Progress Theatre's production had been adapted from the novel by Ali Carroll, who also directed with Christine Moran. Together this team made every effort to give the story a refreshing new angle and demonstrated their creative flare. Instead of five siblings, we were introduced to five children being ill-treated in an unsavoury orphanage. Patrick Grimes as Cyril, Jack Jones as Robert, Syvie Briggs as Anthea and Maddie Fleming as Jane performed wonderfully together - a credit to the directors' casting. The added twist was that the story begins with all five children as grown ups. They return to the sand fairy and wish for the story of their youthful adventure to be retold. This worked well and the adult characters remained part of the action, discreetly interacting with the children and also assuming the role of five narrators. Kevin Hallett as adult Cyril, Steve Webb as adult Robert, Laura Lewis as adult Jane and Michael Beakhouse as adult Lamb, captured the characteristics of the children's roles. But, of course, there would be no story without the impish Psammead - or sand fairy to us - played by Sam Rogers. Sam was full of fun and won the audience over instantly with her excellent portrayal. A well-designed set complemented the action, with hinged flats hidden all over the stage allowing fluent scene changes by cast. However, the actual painting was not of the same standard and neither the lighting. The arrival of sunset was often too subtle to be effective. But this caused no serious distraction and it was a good production. Perhaps a shorter run would have seen a fuller audience enjoying it? It certainly entertained me and I would look forward to their next. DANIEL MASKELL

Previous productions

Death and the Maiden, 5th to 10th July 2010
Beary Tales And Bored Office Drones, 18th to 19th June 2010
Is This It?, 14th to 15th June 2010
The Pillowman, 20th to 29th May 2010
Intimate Exchanges, 14th to 24th April 2010
Travesties, 23rd, 26th and 27th March 2010
The Importance Of Being Earnest, 22nd, 24th and 27th March 2010
A Couple of Poor, English-speaking Poles, 1st to 6th March 2010
Going Postal, 28th January to 6th February 2010
Don Juan Comes Back From The War, 15th to 17th December 2009
Much Ado About Nothing, 26th November to 5th December 2009
4th Write Fest, 22nd to 24th October 2009
Closer, 28th September to 3rd October 2009
Little Sweet Thing, 7th to 9th July 2009
Twelfth Night, 29th to 30th June 2009
PYT Week, 29th June to 4th July 2009
The Dianalogues, 8th to 13th June 2009
Popcorn, 7th to 16th May 2009
Entrapment, 16th to 18th April 2009
Macbeth, 30th March to 4th April 2009
I, Bertolt Brecht, 5th to 14th March 2009
3rd Write Fest, 29th to 31st January 2009
Five Children and It!, 29th December 2008 to 10th January 2009
The Tamer Tamed, 20th to 29th November 2008
Kindertransport, 27th October to 1st November 2008. See the review in the Archive.
Honour, 22nd to 27th September 2008
The Taming of the Shrew, 14th to 26th July 2008
A Right Mouthful, 5th July 2008
Last Resort, 26th to 28th June 2008
The Women of Lockerbie, 19th to 24th May 2008. See the review in the Archive.
Four Nights in Knaresborough, 10th to 19th April 2008. See the review in the Archive.
Return to the Forbidden Planet, 14th to 23rd February 2008. See the review in the Archive.
2nd Write Fest, 17th to 19th January 2008
The Jungle Book, 28th December 2007 to 5th January 2008
Blue/Orange, 19th to 24th November 2007. See the review in the Archive.
My Voice(s), 3rd November 2007
The Veil, 22nd to 27th October 2007
Woman in Mind, 20th to 29th September 2007
A Midsummer Night's Dream, 16th to 28th July 2007. See the review in the Archive.
The Husband Defeated, 10th to 19th May 2007
Decadence and People in Cages, 16th to 21st April 2007
The Insect Play, 26th to 31st March 2007
Far Side, 12th to 15th March 2007 at 21 South Street
Wait Until Dark, 22nd February to 3rd March 2007. See the review in the Archive.
Festival of New Writing, 22nd to 27th January 2007
Alice in Storyland, 28th December 2006 to 6th January 2007
The Good Woman of Setzuan, 16th to 25th November 2006
Hannah and Hanna, 9th to 14th October 2006. See the review in the Archive.
Entertaining Mr Sloane, 7th to 16th September 2006. See the review in the Archive.
2006 Reading Abbey Ruins Open Air Shakespeare: The Winter's Tale, 17th to 29th July 2006. See the review in the Archive.
Dracula, 11th to 15th July 2006. Progress Theatre Student Group.
Skylight, 1st to 10th June 2006
Hot Chit Chat .com and In The Village, They Are Saying, 24th to 29th April 2006
Blasted, 20th to 25th March 2006
Julius Caesar, 1st to 4th March 2006
Breaking the Code, 9th to 18th February 2006. See the review in the Archive.
James and the Giant Peach, 29th December 2005 to 7th January 2006. See the review in the Archive.
Godspell, 10th to 19th November 2005
The Woman who Cooked her Husband, 3rd to 8th October 2005. See the review in the Archive.
... A Many Splendoured Thing, 24th July 2005
2005 Abbey Ruins Open Air Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet, 18th to 30th July 2005. See the review in the Archive.
The Government Inspector, 5th to 9th July 2005
Charley's Aunt, 12th to 21st and 28th May 2005
Two New Plays, 4th to 9th April 2005
The Caucasian Chalk Circle, 24th February to 5th March 2005
The Demon Headmaster, 29th December 2004 to 8th January 2005. See the review in the Archive.
The Crucible, 18th to 27th November 2004
Happy Days, 11th to 16th October 2004
The Comedy of Errors, 27th July to 1st August and 11th September 2004
Much Ado About Nothing, 6th to 10th July 2004
Stepping Out, 17th to 26th June 2004. See the review in the Archive.
Too Clever By Half, 26th February to 6th March 2004. See the review in the Archive.
Rama and Sita, 30th December 2003 to 10th January 2004
Two New Plays, 10th to 15th November 2003:
  How to Become Famous by Arthur Burke
  Generation Games by Kerry Murdock
Copenhagen, 13th to 18th October 2003
Reading Abbey Ruins Shakespeare 2003
 The Merchant of Venice, 21st July to 2nd August. See the review in the Archive.