Second Write Fest tickets on sale now

Tickets for the Second Write Fest are now on sale at a bargain price of £8 (£7 for concessions).

Nine short plays by writers from around the country and all receiving their premieres. Whether you like comedy, drama or music, respect straight-talking hard men or prefer poetic souls you will find something to your taste at the event that is the Write Fest.

Showcases of new plays have been produced by Progress for almost ten years, giving writers, actors and directors an opportunity to experiment and hone their skills. Until the First Write Fest last year these events had been for members only.

The consistent quality and strength of the writing prompted Progress to open the event up for public viewing, inviting everyone to see cutting edge theatre at its best. My Voice(s), discussed elsewhere in this blog, premiered at the First Write Fest and was so well received that it transferred to the Edinburgh Fringe.

Be the first to see this brand new collection of exciting plays at Progress and keep an eye out for the "next big thing".

If you have any queries, please email writefest@progresstheatre.co.uk

Book now via Reading Arts

Plays for 2008/2009 Season

There are still two slots remaining for the 2008/2009 Season at Progress Theatre. Those of you who were thinking about proposing but missed the original deadline, here is your second chance. The deadline for submitting proposals to the Play Production Committee (PPC) is Sunday 13 January. Presentations by the Directors will hopefully be held on Sunday 20 January.

The available slots left in the season are September 2008 and May/June 2009.

We are looking for modern/contemporary plays that are fresh and light hearted with some good, honest humour.

If you would like to be considered as a Director for the next Season, here is what you have to do in 4 easy steps.

1. Select a suitable play.
2. Complete a "Proposal form" (email the PPC at progress-ppc@lists.progresstheatre.co.uk to get one) telling us as much as you can about the play, your vision for it and which season slot you would prefer. Enthusiasm goes a long way.
3. Submit your proposal by Sunday 13 January to either the PPC email address (as above) or by leaving a copy at the theatre marked for the attention of the PPC.
4. The PPC will read all the submissions and Directors will be invited to present their proposal, hopefully on 20 January.

With the introduction of the new show production scheme please make yourself familiar with the "Production Team Guidelines" (also available by emailing the PPC)

If you need any help with putting a proposal together, do not hesitate to contact the PPC at progress-ppc@lists.progresstheatre.co.uk or Emma Sterry on 07814004634.

Auditions for Four Nights in Knaresborough

Four Nights in Knaresborough, by Paul Webb
Directed by Harry Gray
Performance dates – Thursday 10th April to Saturday 19th April 2008

Open auditions: Sunday, 20th January 2.30pm, and Wednesday, 23rd January 7.30pm at Progress Theatre.

It is the twelfth Century. Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, is slain and England is crying out for the assassins’ blood. Deserted by their King and in danger from the wrath of the outraged population the four guilty knights hole up for a year in a castle in deepest Yorkshire. This fascinating, modern play explores what might have happened to four fighting men condemned to confinement in each others company after committing "the worst career move in history". It is funny, violent, touching and intelligent; join Brito, Traci, Morville and Fitz as they fight, freeze and fornicate through four nights in the worst year of their lives.

Fitz (Reginald FitzUrse), late thirties. A tough, violent, hardened veteran but affected by a deep sense of loss.

Traci (William de Traci), thirties. An intelligent soldier/aristocrat.

Morville (Hugh de Morville), thirties. A landowner knight, bowed down with a sense of guilt over the assassination.

Brito (Richard le Bret), the youngest. Lower in status than the others. Always striving to impress but with a vein of tenderness underneath his brashness.

Catherine, mid-twenties. A widow, intelligent, feisty and very protective of her young son.

The boy, ten. Catherine’s son. Non-speaking but could look angelic.

Becket, fifties. Non-speaking but conveys authority and strength of will.

Wigmore, fifty. A Yorkshireman. Leader of the local council.

John, the visitor, fifties. A hard-headed Yorkshire business man.

The parts of Becket, Wigmore and John could possibly be doubled up. The stated ages are flexible and could be adjusted to fit the casting.


If you are interested but unable to attend either audition or need further information a phone call will ensure that you are considered.

Harry Gray (Director)
36A Shinfield Road, Reading RG2 7BW
Tel: 0118 986 8672

Calling all technical people

Anyone interested in any aspect of technical work is invited to get in touch with Aidan Moran (0118 901 8456). We have dedicated three productions this season to be training shows so that people can learn 'on the job' under the supervision of experienced people. Do take this opportunity to widen your pool of talents.

Back-Eye Revised and Devised

For their winter term production, the Youth Theatre has been devising on themes from The Bacchae and has come up with an exciting and innovative piece of theatre bringing Euripides’ classic Greek tragedy frighteningly up to date. The piece is fully-scripted directly from the students devising work, so they are responsible for both the content and performance of this piece.

Performances take place at Park United Reformed Church, Palmer Park Avenue, 14th – 15th December, 8.00pm. Tickets £7 and £5 concs, available on the door.

This forms the second half of a project, as we were delighted to take part in the Shine Festival in October, presenting a shorter section of the piece in the first Shine 2, Spoken Word Festival. The organisers were very keen to have us back next year and we hope to make this a long-standing relationship with Shine.

So come along and support the students and see the full version in all its glory!