Progress Theatre is a local theatre company at Reading in England. It is a registered charity and it is a member of the Little Theatre Guild (LTG) and the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA).
History Progress Theatre was established in 1946 with the aim of presenting new and challenging work.
Its first production was staged in 1947 in Palmer Hall, West Street, Reading. It moved to its present location, The Mildmay Hall, The Mount (near Reading University) in 1951.
In 1964, after a fund raising campaign, the freehold of the building was bought. After modernisation, the theatre now seats 97 people.
Kenneth Branagh, who was a member of the theatre in the late 1970s, became Progress Theatre patron in 2011.
Educational role In the 1950s a Student Group for 14- to 18-year-olds was set up. A charitable organisation, "The Progress Theatre" was established in 1962 with the object of promoting education in performing arts in Reading and the surrounding area. Since 2009, the Progress Youth Theatre consists of two groups for 15- to 18-year-olds and groups for school years 4 to 6 (ages 8 to 11), 7 to 8 (ages 11 to 13) and 9 to 10 (ages 13 to 15). The groups give a public performance each year.
Present day The theatre has a membership of around 150 people and puts on a regular menu of classic and contemporary theatre. All of these productions are managed by volunteers.
The theatre also stages a summer open-air event, predominantly a Shakespeare play, at the historic and newly renovated ruins of Reading Abbey. These productions are managed in partnership with Reading Borough Council. In 2007, the event was expanded to form the Reading Abbey Ruins Open Air Festival. Due to the ongoing restoration of the abbey, in 2011 the event temporarily moved to the gardens of Caversham Court, the site of a Tudor manor house on the banks of the River Thames. However, it returned to Reading Abbey Ruins in 2018, following the completion of the renovations, and continued to perform from this beautiful location.
Past productions Progress has presented contemporary plays since its founding and the first performances in England of The Good Woman of Setzuan by Bertolt Brecht and The Shadow of a Gunman by Seán O'Casey were produced at the theatre in 1952 and 1958 respectively.
More recently, Progress has produced a series of Christmas shows based on popular children's books including: Mort by Terry Pratchett (adap. Stephen Briggs) in 1997–1998 James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl in 2005–2006, using an adaptation by David Wood usually available only to professional productions.
Recent years have also seen productions of notorious plays such as Blasted by Sarah Kane, while the yearly open-air Shakespeare season continues to prove popular.
Past seasons Productions during the 2005–2006 seasonPlayAuthorDatesReviewsThe Woman Who Cooked Her HusbandDebbie Isitt3 to 8 October 2005Theatre archiveGodspellJohn-Michael Tebelak / Stephen Schwartz10 to 19 November 2005Theatre archiveJames and the Giant PeachRoald Dahl (adapted by David Wood)29 December 2005 to 7 January 2006Theatre archiveBreaking the CodeHugh Whitemore9 to 18 February 2006Julius CaesarWilliam Shakespeare1 to 4 March 2006BlastedSarah Kane20 to 25 March 2006BBC ReviewIn the Village / HotChitChat.com (double bill)Mary Took / Arthur Burke (local writers)24 to 29 April 2006SkylightDavid Hare1 to 10 June 2006Dracula (a Progress Youth Theatre production)Bram Stoker (adapted by Glynn Oram, a local writer)11 to 15 July 2006BBC ReviewThe Winter's Tale (performed in the Reading Abbey Ruins)William Shakespeare17 to 29 July 2006 Productions during the 2006–2007 seasonPlayAuthorDatesReviewsEntertaining Mr SloaneJoe Orton7 to 16 September 2006Newbury Weekly NewsHanna and HannahJohn Retallack9 to 14 October 2006Newbury Weekly NewsThe Good Woman of SetzuanBertolt Brecht16 to 25 November 2006BBCAlice in StorylandAli Carroll (local writer)28 December 2006 to 6 January 2007First WritefestA festival of new writing22 to 27 January 2007Wait Until DarkFrederick Knott22 February to 3 March 2007Newbury Weekly NewsThe Far Side (performed at 21 South Street)Courttia Newland12 to 15 March 2007BBCThe Insect Play (a Progress Youth Theatre production)Josef and Karel Čapek26 to 31 March 2007Grey Owl (a visiting production by Progress Theatre (Canada))Armand Garnet Ruffo10 to 11 April 2007Decadence / People in Cages (double bill)Steven Berkoff / David Henry Wilson16 to 21 April 2007BBCThe Husband DefeatedMolière10 to 19 May 2007A Midsummer Night's Dream (performed in the Reading Abbey Ruins)William Shakespeare16 to 28 July 2007BBC Reading Evening Post Productions during the 2007–2008 seasonPlayAuthorDates(P)reviewsWoman in MindAlan Ayckbourn20 to 29 September 2007BBC Preview BBC ReviewThe VeilKerry Murdock22 to 27 October 2007BBC Preview BBC Review Remotegoat ReviewMy Voice(s)Kerry Murdock3 November 2007BBC ReviewBlue/OrangeJoe Penhall19 to 24 November 2007BBC Review Newbury Weekly News Lentissimo article Production PhotosThe Jungle BookRudyard Kipling, adapted by Stuart Paterson28 December 2007 to 6 January 2008BBC Preview BBC ReviewSecond WritefestA festival of new writing17 to 19 January 2008BBC preview Remotegoat reviewReturn to the Forbidden PlanetBob Carlton14 to 23 February 2008Newbury Theatre reviewAfter Juliet (a Progress Youth Theatre production)Sharman Macdonald10 to 15 March 2008BBC Review Remotegoat reviewFour Nights in KnaresboroughPaul Webb10 to 19 April 2008Reading Evening Post review Remote goat review Newbury Weekly News reviewThe Women of LockerbieDeborah Brevoort19 to 24 May 2008Newbury Weekly News reviewThe Taming of the Shrew (performed in the Reading Abbey Ruins)William Shakespeare14 to 26 July 2008Reading Evening Post preview Productions during the 2008–2009 seasonPlayAuthorDates(P)reviewsHonourJoanna Murray-Smith22 to 27 September 2008Reading Evening Post reviewKindertransportDiane Samuels27 October to 1 November 2008Reading Evening Post review Newbury Weekly News ReviewThe Tamer TamedJohn Fletcher20 to 29 November 2008Reading Evening Post reviewFive Children and ItE. Nesbit, adapted by Ali Carroll29 December 2008 to 10 January 2009Reading Evening Post review Newbury Weekly News ReviewThird Write FestA festival of new writing29 to 31 January 2009Reading Evening Post previewFear and Misery of the Third ReichBertolt Brecht5 to 14 March 2009Reading Evening Post reviewMacbeth (a Progress Youth Theatre production)William Shakespeare30 March to 4 AprilReading Evening Post reviewEntrapmentNicola Abraham16 to 18 April 2009PopcornBen Elton7 to 16 May 2009Reading Evening Post reviewThe DianaloguesLaurel Haines8 to 13 June 2009 Productions during the 2009–2010 seasonPlayAuthorDates(P)reviewsCloserPatrick Marber28 September to 3 October 20094th Annual WritefestA festival of new writing22 to 24 OctoberMuch Ado About NothingWilliam Shakespeare26 November to 5 DecemberGoing PostalTerry Pratchett (adap. Stephen Briggs)28 January to 6 February 2010A Couple of Poor, English-Speaking PolesDorota Masłowska1 to 6 MarchThe Importance of Being Earnest and Travesties (a Progress Youth Theatre production)Oscar Wilde and Tom Stoppard22 to 27 MarchGet Reading reviewIntimate ExchangesAlan Ayckbourn14 to 24 AprilGet Reading preview Get Reading reviewThe PillowmanMartin McDonagh20 to 29 MayProgress Youth Theatre production14 to 19 JuneDeath and the MaidenAriel Dorfman5 to 10 July
Famous members Sir Kenneth Branagh made his earliest theatre appearances with Progress Theatre in the 1970s, including one minor role as "second policeman" and is the theatre's patron. Dame Judi Dench is currently the patron of the Friends of Progress Theatre. Marianne Faithfull, a pop singer and actress, was a member of the Theatre's Student Group in the early 1960s. Gerard Johnson, a British keyboard player, was also a member of the Theatre's Student Group between 1976 and 1981. Peter Strickland, director and screenwriter of Berberian Sound Studio. Elize du Toit, an actress who has appeared in Hollyoaks and Skyfall. Brendan Patricks, a London-based magician and actor from Downton Abbey.
Notes A. My Voice(s), a piece of new writing featured in the First Write Fest, was subsequently developed and performed at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
References
External links Progress Theatre website