Hexagon Studio
Revitalising the Hexagon, Central Library and Civic Customer Service
Plans are progressing on exciting proposals to revitalise the town’s cultural offer.
The plans include transforming and adding to the much-loved Hexagon Theatre and creating a new modern Central Library at the Civic Offices.
Our ambition is to do everything we can to ensure all our residents, whatever their circumstances or background, can share in the town’s success.
In January 2023, we received the fantastic news the council had been successful in a bid for ‘Levelling Up’ funding and awarded £19.1 million to revitalise Reading’s cultural offer.
Hexagon Studio Images
What this means for The Hexagon:
The investment could see a brand-new studio auditorium with capacity of up to 300 people as well as a striking new entrance at street level to improve accessibility.
In addition to a welcoming public area and community space, the plans are to create a new versatile auditorium allowing for a variety of seating and standing options for a flexible performing and rehearsal facility.
The unique Hexagon auditorium will remain and the council is funding the upgrade of lighting, sound, and new electrics across the whole site.
Heating the entertainment centre will come from a sustainable heat source to fit with the council’s commitment to a net-zero carbon Reading by 2030.
A planning application is set to be submitted in early 2024 and, if given consent, work could begin as early as August 2024.
The Hexagon will remain open, and productions will continue to go ahead during the transformation. Take a look at What’s On.
The theatre development could also be at the centre of an ambitious and wider plan to create the ‘Minster Quarter’. Plans will include building hundreds of new homes in a significant area of the town centre, creating a vibrant thriving new community at the heart of the town. It will bring new jobs and growth which will benefit local residents and the economy.
View the live planning application HERE
We would love to hear your comments about the plans for The Hexagon, please contact the Box Office on boxoffice@reading.gov.uk
Find out more about the plans for the Library and Civic Offices
