Wokingham Theatre is no stranger to period productions and the requirement for many beautiful costumes.  In March 2020, Anne Boleyn was due for curtain up at the dress rehearsal when COVID pulled the plug.  Costumes were made, altered, hired and allotted to the actors.  Dressing rooms were laid out with all the accoutrements and we were set to go.  Fast forward 19 months and here we are again, but many of the costumes look a little different. Rosemary Matthews was the costume lead on this show and, together with her team, had packed the costumes into storage. Those hired pi

The classic Mike Leigh comedy Abigail’s Party opens later this month, and in advance of the drinks party from hell, we caught up with director Liz George to get her take on the play, her approach, and the songs she’d add to the perfect 70s party playlist! Abigail’s Party is such a classic – when did you first see it, and what made you so interested in directing it? I first discovered Mike Leigh when my sister took me to see his film Life is Sweet at the Hexagon in Reading, over thirty years ago. I remember feeling at the time this was completely different to anything I

From the Director, Liz George: Thank you to everyone who came forward to audition, the standard was really high! I’m delighted to introduce our full cast for Abigail’s Party below: Beverly – Danielle MattyLaurence – Matthew LuggAngela – Rosie LennoxTony – Nicholas PriestSusan – Sarah Jane Nye Rehearsals are now underway and we’re looking forward to performing this September! Tickets for Mike Leigh’s Abigail’s Party are now on general sale. Tickets are available here.

WT is committed to being a diverse and open organisation. Auditions are open to anyone, regardless of background or experience, and we particularly welcome those who have been traditionally under-represented in theatre. Please note that these auditions have now closed. A long time ago (!), when I was still part of Wokingham Youth Theatre, I was lucky enough to play the Mayor in a production of The Government Inspector at WT, and I’ve loved the play ever since. That’s why I’m incredibly excited to be directing our new production, 10+ years on, in December 2021! Synopsis: Argua

With September in the Rain opening in early July, we had a (socially distanced) sit down with director Alan Long to find out more about his approach to directing the first show back at WT in over a year! What is it about John Godber’s script for September in the Rain that drew you to the play? Being married to a Yorkshire girl, Rachel, with a large extended Yorkshire family, I recognised the authenticity of John Godber’s writing. The straight talking, blunt humour, and the ability to disagree about everything is very familiar! The pictures on the website for September In Th

We’re thrilled to introduce you to our 2021/2022 season! After a tricky 18 months, the whole team at WT are incredibly excited at the prospect of reopening, first for a season extra in July, September in the Rain, and then a full season beginning in September 2021. Artistic Director, David Stacey, writes: Understandably, the recent seasons have been really difficult to plan and deliver. This coming season will be my third attempt! Licence limitations and the pandemic have made planning a tough experience for all involved, so I want to thank the Board for their support and everyone for t

Many of our patrons don’t realise that whilst the cast and crew of a show are volunteers, so are our whole front of house team! Whether behind the bar, selling programmes, or checking tickets, everyone involved in the team is giving up their time to help out at WT. It’s also a great way for our members to socialise, as well as meet new people, too! If you’ve not done it before, you’ll receive full training from our team, and for those that have volunteered for us before, we’ve instituted a couple of changes while the theatre has been closed to make life that bit

From the Director, Alan Long: Auditions for September in the Rain have taken place on Zoom, and the play has been cast. I would like to thank all those who auditioned, a relatively small number, but high in quality. I could have cast everyone who auditioned, but in the end, I have gone with the following actors: Liz – Emma MerchantJack – Steve Hall Rehearsals are now underway online and we’re looking forward to staging the play at WT in the summer. Tickets for John Godber’s September in the Rain are going on sale in June, as soon as WT has a clearer picture of government

On Sunday 23rd May, the 6th ‘Wokingham Walk’ will be taking place – all in aid of raising money for local charities. With 5, 10, and 15 mile walks available, it’s a great way to see the local area, get active, and even socialise, all while making a difference. What’s more, as a registered charity, you can help fundraise for Wokingham Theatre, too. Organised by our friends at the Wokingham Lions Club, you can help directly support WT as we reopen after more than a year of being closed, with registration fees also split and donated across several worthy causes that

We’re currently in the process of contacting our season ticket holders regarding WT’s upcoming production of September in the Rain, and the start of our 2021/2 season with Abigail’s Party and the rescheduled Anne Boleyn. Those season ticket holders with credit from the cancelled shows in our 2019/20 season will be able to redeem this credit against September in the Rain, or against their 2021/2022 season ticket purchase. For all season ticket holders, please be aware that we’re leaving the renewals & processing of season tickets slightly later this year to ensure t