Reading theatre nominated for National award
Reading Rep is shortlisted for fringe theatre of the year
Last updated 20th Dec 2023
The Reading Rep Theatre in Berkshire has been shortlisted for the Fringe Theatre of the Year Award at The Stage Awards 2024.
Founded by Reading born Artistic Director Paul Stacey in 2012 with just ÂŁ500, Reading Rep Theatre is rapidly emerging as one of the leading producing venues in the UK. As a disabled practitioner, Paul created the company in order to break down barriers that prevent people from accessing world class theatre.
Founding Artistic Director Paul Stacey said:
“We are really thrilled to be short-listed for The Stage Awards for the second time in three years. Being recognised on a national level really puts Reading on the cultural map, and we hope the whole town can be proud of what we've achieved. This is all made possible by our wonderful and dedicated staff team, all the cast and creative teams, incredible workshop facilitators and freelancers and of course... our audience and participants. I want to extend my congratulations to the two other nominees, The Orange Tree Theatre and The Little Angel Theatre.”
This year the theatre succeeded in growing its audience by 62%, attracting 13,000 people, with outreach and work-experience schemes running alongside its work with youth theatres and associate companies. This was achieved with an offering of ÂŁ5 tickets for under-30s, family discounts of up to 50% and ticket price reductions for theatregoers who would otherwise miss out.
Its championing of new talent was also notable: Annie Kershaw, artistic director of Reading Rep associate company A Girl Called Stephen, made her professional debut in Hedda Gabler – the climax to date of a journey she began at Reading Rep as a volunteer. In Reading Rep’s new adaptation of Peter Pan, half the cast was made up of young performers from the community, many earning their first professional credit.
Elsewhere, it embarked on its first-ever Christmas repertory season, with It’s a Wonderful Life running alongside Potted Panto. It also took work for children into 23 schools, libraries and community hubs in Reading.
Other stand-out projects included a transfer and tour of Gary McNair’s adaptation of Jekyll and Hyde, directed by Michael Fentiman, and a revival of Shakespeare’s R&J, a queer retelling of Shakespeare’s tragedy.
The winner of the category will be announced at the Stage awards ceremony on Monday, January 29, 2024 at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London.