Progress Theatre
{{Short description|Local theatre company in Reading, England}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox organization
|name=Progress Theatre
|image=Progress Theatre logo.png
|size=
|formation=1946
|type=Theatre and Registered charity
|location=Reading, England
|membership=150+
|leader_title=Chair
|leader_name=Stephanie Dewar|website={{URL|www.progresstheatre.co.uk}}
}}
Progress Theatre is a local theatre company at Reading in England.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2005/10/04/woman_who_cooked_review_feature.shtml|title=The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband – review|publisher=BBC|accessdate=4 September 2007|archive-date=13 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613165838/http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2005/10/04/woman_who_cooked_review_feature.shtml|url-status=live}} 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{{citation needed|date=November 2021}} with the aim of presenting new and challenging work.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}
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.{{Cite web
|url = http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=50&Itemid=100
|title = Progress Theatre: A Brief History
|publisher = Progress Theatre
|accessdate = 18 March 2007
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070717231026/http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=50&Itemid=100
|archive-date = 17 July 2007
|url-status = dead
}}
Kenneth Branagh, who was a member of the theatre in the late 1970s, became Progress Theatre patron in 2011.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-14261163|title=Kenneth Branagh becomes Reading Progress Theatre patron|publisher=BBC News|date=23 July 2011|accessdate=24 July 2011|archive-date=19 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119170935/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-14261163|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/kenneth-branaghs-latest-role-progress-4211832 |title=Kenneth Branagh's latest role at Progress Theatre |work=getreading.co.uk |publisher=Trinity Mirror Southern |date=7 June 2013 |access-date=26 July 2017 |archive-date=20 November 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120065435/https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/kenneth-branaghs-latest-role-progress-4211832}}
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.{{Cite web
|url=http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/SHOWCHARITY/RegisterOfCharities/CharityFramework.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=205440&SubsidiaryNumber=0
|title=Progress Theatre: Charity Framework
|publisher=Charity Commission
|accessdate=11 May 2009}} 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).{{Cite web
|url = http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk/youththeatre/
|title = Progress Youth Theatre
|publisher = Progress Theatre
|accessdate = 22 October 2013
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131023071630/http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk/youththeatre/
|archive-date = 23 October 2013
|url-status = dead
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.{{Cite web
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2006/06/28/winters_tale_abbey_ruins_feature.shtml
|title=The Winter's Tale
|publisher=BBC
|accessdate=18 March 2007
|archive-date=8 November 2012
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108002914/http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2006/06/28/winters_tale_abbey_ruins_feature.shtml
|url-status=live
}} 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.{{Cite web
|url = http://www.abbeyruins.com/history.html
|title = Reading Abbey Ruins Open Air Festival: History
|publisher = Progress Theatre
|accessdate = 15 July 2008
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090106010819/http://www.abbeyruins.com/history.html
|archivedate = 6 January 2009
}} 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{{Cite web
|url=http://www.branaghcompendium.com/archive14.htm
|title=Branagh News Archive: July 2003 – December 2003
|publisher=Branagh Compendium
|accessdate=18 March 2007
|archive-date=4 April 2007
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070404164917/http://branaghcompendium.com/archive14.htm
|url-status=live
}} in 1952 and 1958 respectively.{{Cite web
|url = http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk/previous-shows/
|title = Progress Theatre productions since 1946
|publisher = Progress Theatre
|accessdate = 22 October 2013
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131023065051/http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk/previous-shows/
|archive-date = 23 October 2013
|url-status = dead
}}
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{{Cite web
|url=http://www.discworldmonthly.co.uk/dwm0009.php#S_5
|title=Discworld Monthly – Issue 9: January 1998
|accessdate=19 March 2007
|archive-date=9 February 2007
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209221113/http://www.discworldmonthly.co.uk/dwm0009.php#S_5
|url-status=live
|url=http://www.discworldmonthly.co.uk/dwm0010.php#S_8
|title=Discworld Monthly – Issue 10: February 1998
|accessdate=19 March 2007}}{{Cite web
|url=http://www.discworldmonthly.co.uk/dwm0011.php#S_1
|title=Discworld Monthly – Issue 11: March 1998
|accessdate=19 March 2007
|archive-date=11 February 2007
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211145423/http://www.discworldmonthly.co.uk/dwm0011.php#S_1
|url-status=live
}}
- James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl in 2005–2006,{{cite news
|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/01/04/ltoday04.xml
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516114252/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/01/04/ltoday04.xml
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=16 May 2007
|title=Today you can:… The Telegraph
|accessdate=19 March 2007
|quote=Bypass panto: see the stage version of Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach
| work=The Daily Telegraph
| location=London
| date=4 January 2006}} using an adaptation by David Wood usually available only to professional productions.{{Cite web
|url=http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/0600whatson/0300theatre/tm_method=full%26objectid=16510463%26siteid=50102-name_page.html
|title=Progress show is giant step forwards
|publisher=icBerkshire
|accessdate=11 June 2007}}
Recent years have also seen productions of notorious plays such as Blasted by Sarah Kane,{{Cite web
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2006/03/28/blasted_at_progress_review_feature.shtml
|title=Blasted: BBC Berkshire review
|accessdate=19 March 2007
|archive-date=8 November 2012
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108003140/http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2006/03/28/blasted_at_progress_review_feature.shtml
|url-status=live
|url = http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=84&Itemid=161
|title = Blasted: reviews
|accessdate = 19 March 2007
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070514080014/http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=84&Itemid=161
|archive-date = 14 May 2007
|url-status = dead
}} while the yearly open-air Shakespeare season continues to prove popular.{{Cite web
|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/2031935_have_we_got_shrews_for_you
|title=Have we got Shrews for you...
|publisher=Reading Evening Post
|accessdate=14 July 2008
|archive-date=6 September 2008
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906110242/http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/2031935_have_we_got_shrews_for_you
|url-status=live
}}
Past seasons
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" width="100%"
!colspan="4"|Productions during the 2005–2006 season |
| Play
!Author !Dates !Reviews |
|---|
| The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband
|3 to 8 October 2005 |[https://web.archive.org/web/20070601165314/http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=161 Theatre archive] |
| Godspell
|John-Michael Tebelak / Stephen Schwartz |10 to 19 November 2005 |[https://web.archive.org/web/20070601165600/http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=80&Itemid=161 Theatre archive] |
| James and the Giant Peach
|Roald Dahl (adapted by David Wood) |29 December 2005 to 7 January 2006 |[https://web.archive.org/web/20070514075921/http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=81&Itemid=161 Theatre archive] |
| Breaking the Code
|9 to 18 February 2006 | |
| Julius Caesar
|1 to 4 March 2006 | |
| Blasted
|20 to 25 March 2006 |[https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2006/03/28/blasted_at_progress_review_feature.shtml BBC Review] |
| In the Village / HotChitChat.com (double bill)
|Mary Took / Arthur Burke (local writers) |24 to 29 April 2006 | |
| Skylight
|1 to 10 June 2006 | |
| Dracula (a Progress Youth Theatre production)
|Bram Stoker (adapted by Glynn Oram, a local writer) |11 to 15 July 2006 |[https://web.archive.org/web/20121110210115/http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2006/07/14/dracula_review_feature.shtml BBC Review] |
| The Winter's Tale (performed in the Reading Abbey Ruins)
|17 to 29 July 2006 | |
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" width="100%"
!colspan="4"|Productions during the 2006–2007 season |
| Play
!Author !Dates !Reviews |
|---|
| Entertaining Mr Sloane
|7 to 16 September 2006 |[http://www.newburytheatre.co.uk/archive/200609b.htm Newbury Weekly News] |
| Hanna and Hannah
|9 to 14 October 2006 |[http://www.newburytheatre.co.uk/archive/200610c.htm Newbury Weekly News] |
| The Good Woman of Setzuan
|16 to 25 November 2006 |[https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2006/11/20/good_woman_of_setzuan_review_feature.shtml BBC] |
| Alice in Storyland
|Ali Carroll (local writer) |28 December 2006 to 6 January 2007 | |
| First Writefest{{ref|a|a}}
|A festival of new writing |22 to 27 January 2007 | |
| Wait Until Dark
|22 February to 3 March 2007 |[http://www.newburytheatre.co.uk/theatres/progress.htm Newbury Weekly News] |
| The Far Side (performed at 21 South Street)
|12 to 15 March 2007 |[https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2007/03/20/far_side_review_feature.shtml BBC] |
| The Insect Play (a Progress Youth Theatre production)
|Josef and Karel Čapek |26 to 31 March 2007 | |
| Grey Owl (a visiting production by Progress Theatre (Canada))
|10 to 11 April 2007 | |
| Decadence / People in Cages (double bill)
|Steven Berkoff / David Henry Wilson |16 to 21 April 2007 |[https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2007/04/24/review_decadence_feature.shtml BBC] |
| The Husband Defeated
|10 to 19 May 2007 | |
| A Midsummer Night's Dream (performed in the Reading Abbey Ruins)
|16 to 28 July 2007 |[https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2007/07/18/midsummernightsdream_review_feature.shtml BBC] [http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/2012968_fairy_good_show_at_ruined_abbey Reading Evening Post] |
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" width="100%"
!colspan="4"|Productions during the 2007–2008 season |
| Play
!Author !Dates !(P)reviews |
|---|
| Woman in Mind
|20 to 29 September 2007 |[https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2007/08/10/woman_in_mind_feature.shtml BBC Preview] [https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2007/09/25/woman_in_mind_review_feature.shtml BBC Review] |
| The Veil
|Kerry Murdock |22 to 27 October 2007 |[https://web.archive.org/web/20121110205352/http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2007/10/02/the_veil_feature.shtml BBC Preview] [https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2007/10/23/the_veil_review_feature.shtml BBC Review] [https://web.archive.org/web/20071210060756/http://www.remotegoat.co.uk/review_view.php?uid=621 Remotegoat Review] |
| My Voice(s){{ref|a|a}}
|Kerry Murdock |3 November 2007 |[https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2007/11/07/my_voice_review_feature.shtml BBC Review] |
| Blue/Orange
|19 to 24 November 2007 |[https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2007/11/21/review_blue_orange_feature.shtml BBC Review] [http://www.newburytheatre.co.uk/archive/200711b.htm Newbury Weekly News] [http://www.lentissimo.co.uk/2007/11/what-colours-do-you-see.html Lentissimo article] [https://www.flickr.com/photos/awernham/sets/72157603525900670/show/ Production Photos] |
| The Jungle Book
|Rudyard Kipling, adapted by Stuart Paterson |28 December 2007 to 6 January 2008 |[https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2007/12/12/panto_jungle_book_feature.shtml BBC Preview] [https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2008/01/03/junglebook_review_progress_feature.shtml BBC Review] |
| Second Writefest
|A festival of new writing |17 to 19 January 2008 |[https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2008/01/11/write_fest_progress_theatre_feature.shtml BBC preview] [http://theatre.remotegoat.co.uk/review_view.php?uid=1059 Remotegoat review]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} |
| Return to the Forbidden Planet
|14 to 23 February 2008 |[http://www.newburytheatre.co.uk/theatres/progress.htm Newbury Theatre review] |
| After Juliet (a Progress Youth Theatre production)
|10 to 15 March 2008 |[https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2008/03/13/after_juliet_review_feature.shtml BBC Review] [https://web.archive.org/web/20110720094724/http://www.remotegoat.co.uk/review_view.php?uid=1375&PHPSESSID=d0cd2551b03886e8fe92edaa2dab0057 Remotegoat review] |
| Four Nights in Knaresborough
|10 to 19 April 2008 |[http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/2025820_four_nights_in_knaresborough_15408 Reading Evening Post review] [https://web.archive.org/web/20110720094736/http://www.remotegoat.co.uk/review_view.php?uid=1667 Remote goat review] [http://www.newburytheatre.co.uk/archive/200804d.htm Newbury Weekly News review] |
| The Women of Lockerbie
|19 to 24 May 2008 |[http://www.newburytheatre.co.uk/theatres/progress.htm Newbury Weekly News review] |
| The Taming of the Shrew (performed in the Reading Abbey Ruins)
|14 to 26 July 2008 |[http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/2031935_have_we_got_shrews_for_you Reading Evening Post preview] |
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" width="100%"
!colspan="4"|Productions during the 2008–2009 season |
| Play
!Author !Dates !(P)reviews |
|---|
| Honour
|22 to 27 September 2008 |[http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/2036445_progress_theatre__honour Reading Evening Post review] |
| Kindertransport
|27 October to 1 November 2008 |[http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/2038425_kindertransport_at_the_progress_theatre Reading Evening Post review] [http://www.newburytheatre.co.uk/archive/200810a.htm Newbury Weekly News Review] |
| The Tamer Tamed
|20 to 29 November 2008 |[http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/2041065_the_tamer_tamed_at_the_progress_theatre Reading Evening Post review] |
| Five Children and It
|E. Nesbit, adapted by Ali Carroll |29 December 2008 to 10 January 2009 |[http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/2042070_five_children_and_it__progress_theatre Reading Evening Post review] [http://www.newburytheatre.co.uk/theatres/progress.htm Newbury Weekly News Review] |
| Third Write Fest
|A festival of new writing |29 to 31 January 2009 |[http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/2043968_box_office_hot_tickets Reading Evening Post preview]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} |
| Fear and Misery of the Third Reich
|5 to 14 March 2009 |[http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/2046587_review__i_bertolt_brecht_at_the_progress_theatre Reading Evening Post review] |
| Macbeth (a Progress Youth Theatre production)
|30 March to 4 April |[http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/2048252_review__macbeth_at_the_progress_theatre Reading Evening Post review] |
| Entrapment
|Nicola Abraham |16 to 18 April 2009 | |
| Popcorn
|7 to 16 May 2009 |[http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/2050451_popcorn_at_the_progress_theatre Reading Evening Post review] |
| The Dianalogues
|8 to 13 June 2009 | |
| class="wikitable collapsible" width="100%"
!colspan="4"|Productions during the 2009–2010 season |
| Play
!Author !Dates !(P)reviews |
|---|
| Closer
|28 September to 3 October 2009 | |
| 4th Annual Writefest
|A festival of new writing |22 to 24 October | |
| Much Ado About Nothing
|26 November to 5 December | |
| Going Postal
|Terry Pratchett (adap. Stephen Briggs) |28 January to 6 February 2010 | |
| A Couple of Poor, English-Speaking Poles
|1 to 6 March | |
| The Importance of Being Earnest and Travesties (a Progress Youth Theatre production)
|Oscar Wilde and Tom Stoppard |22 to 27 March |[http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/2068165_progress_youth_theatre_double_bill Get Reading review] |
| Intimate Exchanges
|14 to 24 April |[https://web.archive.org/web/20120223051017/http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/2068872_intimate_exchanges_a_play_with_16_endings Get Reading preview] [http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/2069552_intimate_exchanges_the_selfimproving_woman Get Reading review] |
| The Pillowman
|20 to 29 May | |
| Progress Youth Theatre production
| |14 to 19 June | |
| Death and the Maiden
|5 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.{{citation
|title='Peter Strickland celebrates win at British Film Awards'
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/berkshire/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8504000/8504780.stm
|accessdate=22 October 2013
|date=9 February 2010
|archive-date=6 March 2016
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306155839/http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/berkshire/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8504000/8504780.stm
|url-status=live
}}
- Elize du Toit, an actress who has appeared in Hollyoaks and Skyfall.{{citation
|title='Elize du Toit Official Biography'
|url=http://www.elizedutoit.com/public/biography/
|accessdate=14 January 2015
|archive-date=28 December 2017
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228225248/http://www.elizedutoit.com/public/biography/
|url-status=dead
}}
- Brendan Patricks, a London-based magician and actor from Downton Abbey.
Notes
A.{{Note|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.[http://www.spuddlington.com/frictiontheatre/FT%20Shows%20-%20My%20Voices%20-%20More%20Information.htm]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9NzMer9tfc][https://web.archive.org/web/20070927195154/http://www.edfringe.com/shows/detail.php?action=shows&id=5185]
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk/ Progress Theatre website]
{{coord|51|26|39.9|N|0|57|28.12|W|region:GB|display=title}}
Category:Arts organizations established in 1946
Category:Amateur theatre companies in England
Category:Organisations based in Berkshire
Category:Culture in Reading, Berkshire
Category:Theatres in Berkshire
Category:Buildings and structures in Reading, Berkshire