Reading Rep Theatre is a local theatre with a national reputation. Founded by Reading born Artistic Director Paul Stacey in 2012 with just £500, Reading Rep Theatre is rapidly emerging as one of the leading producing venues in the UK. As a disabled practitioner, Paul created the company in order to break down barriers that prevent people from accessing world class theatre. 

From our state-of-the-art new venue, we commission and produce bold and experimental work with many of the UK’s leading creatives: reinventing the classics, championing new writing and reinterpreting adaptations. Our productions have garnered significant critical acclaim and have subsequently toured regionally, nationally and internationally. In 2024, our production of Jekyll and Hyde by Gary McNair transferred to the Theatre Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh before embarking on a Scottish tour, continuing our mission of putting Reading on the national cultural map. Accessibility is central to Reading Rep’s work, and 10% of all our tickets are given away for free to those who can’t afford them.

The local community is at the heart of our company. ENGAGE is Reading Rep Theatre’s flagship outreach programme which exists to ensure that everyone in Reading, no matter their background, can access our work. ENGAGE enables 10,000 children, young people and vulnerable adults to access Reading Rep Theatre’s work throughout their lives. These award-winning programmes are delivered in partnership with community partners such as Reading Libraries, Reading Borough Council, Reading College, the University of Reading, and the NHS.