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Next Play 
25-30 MAY 2026 Book Tickets
Home, I'm Darling
A modern comedy by Laura Wade
Judy wants to live like it’s the fifties, gender roles and all! After all, aren’t we all free to live the life we choose, no matter what that looks like?
She met Johnny at a retro convention and they’re both lovers of the era - her from watching 1950s films with her father, him for the cars. Wasn’t it all so lovely, so simple, so good? People knew what was expected of them, and if you did the right things, in the right order, everything worked. Besides, she loves the beauty of their perfect home and providing for her husband.
But as their friends, family and colleagues look on, what cracks will start to appear in the perfect relationship, with its traditional values and gender roles?
Next Jazz 
5 JUNE 2026 Book Tickets
Derek Nash with the PJC Quartet
- Derek Nash saxophones
- Terry Hutchins guitar
- Jim Pollard piano
- Stuart Barker bass
- Brian Greene drums
British Jazz Award-winning Derek Nash – bandleader, composer, arranger, record producer and engineer – is one of the UK’s busiest jazz musicians. He is leader of six bands, each with its own unique sound and featuring some of the top jazz musicians in the UK today.
Since 2004 Derek has been a full-time member of the Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra of which he is Musical Director and Principal Saxophonist and he is also a member of the Ronnie Scott’s Blues Explosion. With these bands, he has enjoyed sharing the stage with many great UK and international artists. He is one of the most in-demand and respected guest instrumentalists for jazz clubs across the UK and has received numerous nominations in the British Jazz Awards.
Derek is supported at this gig by the PJC Quartet. This is the terrific house band of Pangbourne Jazz Club which was co-founded in 2016 by the present guitarist Terry Hutchins and the original bassist: the late Keith Howard. Apart from Terry the rest of the quartet is Jim Pollard on piano, Stuart Barker on bass and drummer Brian Greene who co-hosts the club with Terry Hutchins.
Derek is the ultimate showman and entertainer quite apart from being an incredibly talented musician who regularly brings along and plays between five and seven saxophones of various types and we are truly delighted to be bringing Derek and this great supporting quartet to Progress Theatre in Reading.
Progress Youth 75th Anniversary Afternoon
2 MAY 2026 Reserve your spot
Progress Youth Theatre in Reading is proud to celebrate a remarkable milestone — 75 years of inspiring creativity, passion, and performance.
Since its founding in 1946, Progress Theatre has been a cornerstone of the local arts scene. Young members were involved from the very beginning, but 5 years in, and just after we had found our forever home on The Mount, a dedicated group was started to offer young people of all backgrounds the chance to explore the world of theatre and develop their skills. The Student Group, as it was called then, held its first meeting on Wednesday 2nd May 1951 in the Coffee Room (now the foyer).
This anniversary event honours the incredible journey of our youth theatre, showcasing the talent and dedication of its members past and present. Join us as we reflect on the rich history of Progress Youth Theatre, while looking forward to the exciting future of arts and performance in Reading.
The afternoon will include afternoon tea with sandwiches, scones, and prosecco, alongside performances and memories from past and present members, and time to reconnect with old and new friends of Progress Youth Theatre.
Our Open Air Production
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.
Next Art Exhibition
Available for viewing during events throughout April 2026.
Mandy Dodd: A Multidisciplinary Artist
Mandy’s lifelong passion for the arts began in primary school, where the gentle guidance of her headmaster first taught her to capture the form of trees on paper. This early spark grew into a deep love for performance and design during her secondary years, nurtured by a transformative teacher who encouraged her creative potential.
Mandy progressed from foundational drawing and painting into the intricate world of 3D set design, prop making, and stage artistry. Her versatility further expanded into puppetry and pottery, crafts that have provided both creative fulfillment and a resilient anchor through significant life challenges.
Most recently, Mandy has become a creative force at Progress Theatre. She has dedicated months of intensive work to producing stage paintings and props for major productions, including Under Milk Wood, Tess of the d'Urbervilles,and a particularly demanding run of The Picture of Dorian Gray.
When not transforming the stage, she continues to create personal paintings for her own amusement, maintaining the same joy for art that first began under those primary school trees.
WriteFest 20 Submissions Now Open! 
We're thrilled to announce that submissions are officially open for WriteFest 20. You have until 31 May 2026 to submit your entry.
Next year is extra special as we celebrate Progress Theatre's 80th anniversary alongside 20 years of WriteFest showcasing incredible new writing from our local community.
We warmly invite playwrights — both new and experienced — to submit their work!
Get more information on what we're looking for and how to submit >