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| The Hexagon, Reading | |
|---|---|
| Name | The Hexagon, Reading |
| Location | Reading, Berkshire, England |
| Opened | 1977 |
| Architect | Frederick Gibberd? |
| Owner | Reading Borough Council / private operators |
| Capacity | 1,000–2,000 |
| Type | Theatre and conference venue |
The Hexagon, Reading is a performing arts and conference venue in Reading, Berkshire, serving as a regional centre for theatre, music, dance and civic events. Since its opening in the late 20th century it has hosted touring companies, orchestras, comedians and local organisations, forming a nexus between institutions such as the BBC, Royal Shakespeare Company, Arts Council England, and the University of Reading. The venue's programme has linked national festivals, municipal initiatives and private promoters, establishing relationships with entities including the National Theatre, English National Opera, and local cultural trusts.
The venue opened in the 1970s amid urban redevelopment schemes associated with Reading Borough Council, influenced by postwar planning debates involving figures like Lord Aberdare and organisations such as the Greater London Council and the Department for the Environment. Early seasons featured tours from the Royal Shakespeare Company, Paines Plough, and the National Theatre as well as concerts by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and English Chamber Orchestra. Across the 1980s and 1990s it became a stop on circuits used by promoters such as Live Nation and SJM Concerts and hosted headline performers who also toured venues like the Hammersmith Apollo, Manchester Apollo and the Barbican Centre. In the 21st century it adapted to funding shifts from Arts Council England, partnerships with Reading Festival organisers, and collaborations with the University of Reading and Reading Museum. The building has undergone refurbishment phases in line with capital programmes advocated by councils and regeneration agencies, responding to changing standards set by the Health and Safety Executive and the Association of British Theatre Technicians.
Designed in a late-modernist idiom associated with postwar civic architecture, the structure reflects influences found in works by architects such as Sir Basil Spence and Frederick Gibberd, and echoes design conversations evident at the Royal Festival Hall and the National Theatre complex. Its hexagonal footprint informed the acoustic and sightline strategies used by theatre consultants aligned with the Society of British Theatre Designers and the Association for Lighting Production and Design. Materials and services installations paralleled contemporary refurbishments at institutions like Sadler's Wells, the Almeida Theatre and the Crucible Theatre, and incorporated stage technologies comparable to those specified by the Theatres Trust. The foyer and circulation spaces referenced municipal civic centres across the Thames Valley, while envelope and structural treatments were informed by standards promoted by Historic England and the Chartered Institute of Building.
The main auditorium accommodates flexible seating configurations used by touring ensembles such as Kneehigh Theatre and Propeller, and by orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Backstage areas include rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms, and technical workshops suitable for set builders who have worked with companies like the National Theatre and English National Opera. Ancillary spaces comprise a studio theatre for community theatre groups, conference suites used by corporate clients including Reading Festival management and Berkshire business associations, and exhibition areas analogous to those at the Southbank Centre and the Midlands Arts Centre. Front-of-house services operate alongside box office systems employed by Ticketmaster and SEE Tickets, and hospitality provision mirrors arrangements common to venues partnering with VisitBritain and regional tourism boards.
Programming spans drama, classical music, popular music, comedy and dance, attracting touring acts that have appeared at venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, O2 Academy Brixton and the London Palladium. Resident and recurring users have included amateur dramatic societies, youth ensembles linked to the Royal Academy of Music and conservatoires, and community choirs similar to groups affiliated with Making Music and Choirs Trust. The venue has hosted municipal ceremonies, political debates featuring representatives from the Conservative Party, Labour Party and Liberal Democrats, and civic award presentations alongside cultural festivals comparable to the Reading Festival and Thames Valley arts events. It has also been a hire location for film and television units working with broadcasters like the BBC and ITV.
Ownership and governance arrangements have involved Reading Borough Council, arms-length management organisations, and commercial operators experienced with venue portfolios that include the Ambassador Theatre Group and Trafalgar Entertainment. Management structures have reflected frameworks promoted by Arts Council England and the Local Government Association, combining public-sector stewardship with contracted programming by private promoters. Operational management encompasses technical management teams trained to standards from the Association of British Theatre Technicians and administrative partnerships with cultural development agencies and regional enterprise partnerships.
The venue is situated within Reading town centre transport networks served by Reading railway station, with rail services operated by Great Western Railway and CrossCountry connecting to London Paddington, Bristol Temple Meads, and Birmingham New Street. Local bus operators such as Reading Buses provide links to suburbs and neighbouring towns including Bracknell and Slough, while major road corridors A33 and M4 serve car access used by event attendees travelling from Oxford and Heathrow Airport. Accessibility initiatives align with guidelines from the Equality and Human Rights Commission and disabled arts organisations, paralleling access provisions found at the National Theatre and other regional cultural venues.
As a focal point for performing arts in Berkshire, the venue has fostered relationships with educational institutions including the University of Reading, Reading College and local schools, supporting outreach programmes akin to those run by Arts Council England and Creative England. It has contributed to regional cultural economies monitored by VisitEngland and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, collaborating with local partners such as Reading Festival organisers, Reading Museum and the Civic Society. The venue's community remit has included workshops with charities like Artswork and youth engagement projects modeled on national schemes such as Creative Partnerships, reinforcing its role in the cultural infrastructure of the Thames Valley and South East England.
Category:Theatres in Berkshire Category:Buildings and structures in Reading, Berkshire