READING REP THEATRE ANNOUNCES
CHRISTMAS SOUND INSTALLATION AND
NEW PODCAST REFLECTING ON CAPITAL PROJECT
Reading Rep Theatre today announces ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas, a sound installation for the Twilight Trail in Reading’s iconic Forbury Gardens and Abbey Ruins, from 8 December – 3 January 2021. This comes as the company is nearing the end of its capital project to create a permanent home in Reading, having raised over £1,000,000 – a journey that Artistic Director Paul Stacey and Executive Director Nick Thompson are discussingin the new podcast Pre Show Drinks.
‘Twas The Night Before Christmas tells Clement Clarke Moore’s timeless poem in an audio score created by community performers and professional actors during lockdown. The sound installation is directed by Chris Cuming, with Sound Design by Peter Malkin, and features Rick Romero, and will be part of Reading’s inaugural Twilight Trail – a festive trail full of sparkles and illuminations through Forbury Gardens and Abbey Ruins. Listen to a preview of the installation here.
As Reading Rep Theatre looks to open its new arts hub in Spring 2021, Artistic Director Paul Stacey and Executive Director Nick Thompsonhave begun reflecting on their journey in the new podcast Pre Show Drinks,hosted by BBC radio presenter Nick Barraclough. In episodes currently available online, they discuss the backstory of Reading Rep Theatre, and the challenges of establishing a young ambitious company, from which shows to programme, to where to park the audience’s cars. Episodes are released monthly and are available here.
Paul Stacey today said, “We are thrilled to be able to create work in any format this Christmas. We are excited to be working with a community chorus of students (who were able to perform in an educational bubble) and a professional actor, to record a rich and festive soundscape. While we can’t experience live performance quite yet, I hope this will give audiences a sense of the quality of work they can expect from us when we open next year.”
The new Reading Rep Theatre arts hub will include a 168-seat theatre, a permanent education and learning centre, backstage areas, new front of house facilities, and a café/bar. The building is being converted from a 1927 Salvation Army building by Total Projects, and is designed by David Hughes, the architect of the award-winning Park Theatre.
Fundraising for Reading Rep Theatre is ongoing, for more information and to donate, please visit https://www.readingrep.com/support-us/new-theatre/
Rick Romero’s previous credits for Reading Rep Theatre include Waiting For Godot, The Nativity Play Goes Wrong, Look Back in Anger, A Christmas Carol, and The Dumb Waiter. Other theatre credits include Holy Land (UK tour), Julius Caesar (Brockley Jack), and Lady Chatterley’s Lover (Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Bush Hall).
Peter Malkin’s previous theatre credits as a Sound Designer include Death of England (National Theatre), Death of a Salesman, Twelfth Night (Royal Exchange), The Cherry Orchard (Toneelgroep Amsterdam), The Unreturning (Frantic Assembly), Pity, The Kid Stays in the Picture (Royal Court), The Seagull (Lyric Hammersmith), Frogman (Curious Directive), The Tempest (Donmar Warehouse), and Beware of Pity (Complicité). As Co-Sound Designer his credits include The Encounter (Complicité – winner of Tony, Drama Desk, Helpmann and Evening Standard awards or Best Sound Design alongside Gareth Fry), and as Associate Sound Designer, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (West End, Broadway, San Francisco, Hamburg, Australia), 1984 (Headlong), Hamlet (RSC), and Lionboy, The Magic Flute, The Master and Margarita (Complicité).
Chris Cuming’s previous theatre credits as Director and Choreographer include Made In Dagenham (Theatre Royal Norwich), Singin’ In The Rain, (Gaiety Theatre), Peter Pan- The Musical (The Leys, Cambridge) As You Like It (Petersfield Shakespeare Festival), ENCORE! 40 Years of NYMT (Adelphi Theatre), Sweeney Todd, (Cambridge Arts Theatre) and Hello Dolly! (Watford Palace Theatre). Choreography and Movement Direction credits include Sleeping Beauty (Watford Palace Theatre), Growl! (NYMT, UK Tour, China tour), The Lady Vanishes (UK Tour), Goodnight Mr Tom (East Riding Theatre) Midnight – A New Musical (Union Theatre), and Henry V, The Taming of the Shrew (Petersfield Shakespeare Festival).
About Reading Rep Theatre
Reading Rep Theatre was founded from scratch in 2012 by Paul Stacey, operating out of a sixty seat venue. It has since grown into Reading’s multi-award-winning resident professional producing theatre.
As Reading’s only year-round producing theatre, the company provides support to some of the UK’s leading emerging artists, ensuring that everyone in Reading, but especially those with least opportunity, can access high-quality theatre and culture.
In 2018 nearly 15,000 children and young people were reached through Reading Rep’s award-winning ENGAGE programme providing year-round youth theatres, school workshops, and a work experience scheme.
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