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15-25 JULY 2026 Book Tickets
HAMLET
by William Shakespeare
Progress brings a fresh and fast-paced interpretation of Shakespeare’s greatest play, Hamlet in the atmosperic setting of Reading Abbey Ruins.
Aged just 20, Prince Hamlet is clever and funny, yet tormented. His father has died in suspicious circumstances, his widowed mother has remarried his uncle, who has seized the Danish throne, and the woman he loves, Ophelia, is heading towards a tragedy of her own. Their two families are bound together in a relentless descent from which no one will escape unscathed. It's a world of spies, lies, and pretences. Dark humour intermingles with grief, betrayal, and madness, culminating in a conclusion as devastating as any in theatre.
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3-12 SEPTEMBER 2026 Book Tickets
Cold Comfort Farm
In this classic comedy set in the early 1930s, orphaned Flora Poste "possesses every art and grace save that of earning her own living”, so decides to live with her eccentric relatives, the Starkadders, at Cold Comfort Farm. Forceful and organised, she decides to impose order on their chaotic lives. This is a story full of incident and larger-than-life characters, including a doddery old farm hand obsessed with his cows, a fire-and-brimstone preacher, and a forbidding matriarch who once saw something nasty in the woodshed.
A rollicking romp to kick off our 80th season at Progress.
British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation performance on Tuesday 8 September at 7.30pm
Relaxed performance on Saturday, 12 September at 2.30 pm
Sunday 6 September, Gala Matinee — Afternoon Tea Included
Make your Sunday truly special with our Gala Matinee performance, followed by a delightful afternoon tea and a glass of fizz alongside the cast. Join us as we continue the Wedding celebrations from the show and raise a glass to 80 wonderful years of Progress Theatre. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a great performance and an afternoon of celebration — book your ticket now, as spaces for this special event are limited!