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The Hexagon – a good invention?; 35th Anniversary in 2012
Topic Started: 4 Mar 2012, 08:23 PM (1,892 Views)
daib0
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The Hexagon opened in 1977. That means we are approaching the 35th anniversary
as I write this. The Hexagon is a multi-purpose arts venue and theatre with a capacity of 1,200 in central Reading, Berkshire, England.
Its design team was headed by the firm of Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall & Partners, who also designed the adjacent civic offices
and police station. It came about because it was felt that the Old Reading Town Hall lacked both capacity size
and facilities for the more modern productions.


It is, of course, named for its distinctive shape; however, there was originally a Reading citizen competition to decide the name
but I suppose the result was never in doubt!


Events include classical music, comedy, dance, drama, pop and rock concerts. The venue has also been used for snooker
(my dear old mum won a Reading Evening Post competition some years back, and got free tickets and a photo with Steve Davis published
if I remember correctly).



So, looking back over a thirty-five year period –

has it been a good thing for the town?
And for younger members – are you happy with the programming today?
If not, what would you include there instead?




daib0




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Edited by daib0, 4 Mar 2012, 08:25 PM.
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SuffolkRoyal
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The current 'New Theatre' building was built in 1933. The Hexagon was built in 1977. Looks like they got something wrong in Reading if its being compared to something built 44 years earlier.

Should have got Madejski to build it. I wonder what the Hexagon would have been called if that had happened :D :D :D
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Hayes
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The New Theatre Oxford (known, for a period, as the Apollo Theatre Oxford or simply The Apollo from 1977–2003) is the main commercial theatre in Oxford, England and has a capacity of 1,800 people. It is located on George Street, in the centre of the city, and puts on a wide variety of shows, from musical theatre, to stand-up comedy and concerts.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.readingfc.co.uk/?ref=bookmarks
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SuffolkRoyal
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Hayes
1 Dec 2013, 06:47 PM
The New Theatre Oxford (known, for a period, as the Apollo Theatre Oxford or simply The Apollo from 1977–2003) is the main commercial theatre in Oxford, England and has a capacity of 1,800 people. It is located on George Street, in the centre of the city, and puts on a wide variety of shows, from musical theatre, to stand-up comedy and concerts.
Been there many times. Seen the likes of Strawbs (several times), Leo Sayer and Monty Python there. Nice theatre but a bit like a big cinema.
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Hayes
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Only been once,saw Simple Minds and Howard Deveto

https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.readingfc.co.uk/?ref=bookmarks
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daib0
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The Hexagon's days are numbered as Reading council sets out to replace it

Reading Borough Council starts the process to find a partner organisation to build a new theatre

The Hexagon’s days are numbered as Reading Borough Council takes the first small step to replace it. It begins with a decision expected to be taken by the policy committee on Monday, November 2, to find a partner organisation to work with the council to build a new theatre. It is an open invitation through the Official Journal of the European Community (OEJU) to any organisation willing and able to make a business case for the project. It will also include a site appraisal to see whether a new site can be found.

One community interest group in Reading chaired by Festival Republic’s Melvin Benn has been working since June 2014 to get a new theatre for the town. Theatre and Arts for Reading (TAR) welcomed the news of Reading Borough Council’s report to the policy committee on the future of theatre provision in Reading. TAR said it was pleased to hear about the initial stage of a formal OJEU process to invite expressions of interest from potential partners to deliver a new theatre as well as the site appraisal to help identify the most viable site.

Replacing the Hexagon

When TAR set out it believed a new theatre could run alongside The Hexagon but after discussions with the council and other interested parties, the TAR board recognised replacing The Hexagon seemed the most sensible long-term option given the future shape of local authority finances and the investment needed in The Hexagon building in the future.

Chair of TAR Melvin Benn said: “TAR’s aim has always been to work in partnership to develop the resources that will enable more people to have the opportunity to experience and participate in theatre - especially a theatre that has outstanding adaptability. Our feasibility study which was undertaken by CharcoalBlue will be fed into the council’s sites options appraisal and we have had initial discussions with the council on the findings. Our vision is still to help deliver a new theatre suitable for Reading as the economic capital of the Thames Valley, a live performance venue which will be a proud symbol of the art and culture which thrives in the town and which will help to showcase it.”

The TAR Community Interest Group consists of:

** Melvin Benn, chief executive officer of Festival Republic - which runs Reading and Leeds Festivals - and chair of Wembley Stadium
** Andrew Cumpsty, former leader of Reading Borough Council and former first deputy chairman of Thames Valley Berkshire LEP, public relations expert and Reading resident
** Trish Steinhardt has 30 years of experience working in the arts sector
** Sally Swift, Pride of Reading Awards organiser, former head of communications at Reading Borough Council
** Tim Burrage, local business angel investor and advisor
** Toby Davies, company director of Reading Between the Lines Theatre Company (RBL) and Reading resident
** Hilary Scott , executive secretary of TAR, Pride of Reading/Pride of Bucks Awards organiser and former deputy editor of Reading Post/getreading

TAR and its chair Melvin Benn will report the latest developments to the TAR Arts Forum on November 11, at 6.30pm at the penta hotel, Oxford Road, West Reading. TAR is supported by Shoosmiths, the Head Partnership, Festival Republic and Realtime.


Edited by daib0, 23 Oct 2015, 03:57 PM.
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Reading Chronicle


1970s iconic theatre could go to make way for modern theatre space

The Hexagon theatre could close as Reading Borough Council has announced it is looking to provide a new entertainment facility in the town. The costs in running the 1970s building is set to rise in the coming years and is "expensive to maintain" a report published today has revealed.

A Reading Borough Council Policy Committee report recommends that the Council sets in motion a procurement exercise to find a development partner that will fund and deliver a new theatre for Reading. A spokesman for Reading Borough Council said: "The proposed new theatre would be funded by the delivery partner, rather than the Council. The Council would provide the land on which it would be built. At this stage no site has been selected for the potential new theatre. The Policy Committee report recommends a parallel process where sites are examined in detail to help identify the most viable venue."

The theatre, on Dussledorf Way, is next to the empty former Reading Borough Council which is set to be pulled down. The combined area of the Council building and the theatre is almost two acres. It has been the setting for famous bands, comedians and shows and the West End adaptation of Dirty Dancing is coming next year. The theatre has also been used by amateur dramatics companies and schools for performances.

Paul Gittings, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Sport, said: “The Council has a long standing ambition to build a new theatre for Reading which would cement its reputation as an artistic and cultural centre in the region. The Hexagon Theatre has served Reading fantastically for nearly 40 years now. Anyone who has attended a show there will have fond memories of it. Longer term however, Reading needs a new theatre. The cost of maintaining the Hexagon is already high and will only increase over time. Whilst of its time, the design of the building also limits it greatly as a performance venue. The start of the procurement route is a key landmark in what will be a lengthy process. The severe financial limitations the Council is under means we need to look at creative ways of delivering modern new local facilities and finding a delivery partner to fund a new theatre is one way of doing that. The Council for its part would provide the land for the new theatre to be built. No decisions have been made on location at this stage, but the sites option appraisal will look at all available options and the continuity of theatre provision will be key to our thinking.”

Community Interest Company Theatre and Arts Reading (TAR) was established last year with a stated ambition to provide a new theatre for Reading. TAR’s preference is a commercially viable venue with 750-1,200 seats and at least two smaller rehearsal and development spaces as well as box office and café bar facilities. This would effectively be a replacement for The Hexagon Theatre.



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daib0
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The Hexagon will not close before a new theatre is built

Reading Borough Council is taking steps towards replacing the Hexagon, but it will not be paying for the new theatre or subsidising is running costs

The council in Reading might be taking the first steps towards replacing The Hexagon, but it will not be paying for the new building or subsidising it. At a press briefing yesterday, Friday, October 23, leader of the council Councillor Jo Lovelock also emphasised there was no plan to close The Hexagon down before any new theatre was in place.

The council is planning a joint venture and is expected to agree to start the open process to find a development partner at the policy committee meeting on Monday, November 2. One potential partner has already expressed an interest. The community interest company Theatre and Arts Reading (TAR) was set up in June 2014 to build a theatre and has welcomed Reading Borough Council’s proposal to start the process to find a partner. TAR’s preference would be to develop a commercially viable venue with 750 to 1,200 seats and at least two smaller rehearsal/development spaces as well as box office and café/bar facilities.

The policy committee is also to be asked to agree to undertake a site options appraisal for the future provision of a new theatre/ performing arts centre. This would look at possible council-owned sites, but would also welcome suggestions from partner organisations with their own sites in mind. A report to the policy committee suggests anyone entering into a partnership with the council would be looking at raising £25 million to build a new theatre. Although still popular and attracting capacity audiences, the 1970s-built Hexagon has a number of limitations due to its age and design. The building is increasingly expensive to maintain and costs are expected to increase significantly in the coming years. However, unlike many theatres across the country, it is not subsidised by the council.

Deputy leader of the council Cllr Tony Page said: “It washes it face financially." Cllr Paul Gittings, Reading Borough Council’s lead member for culture and sport, said: “The council has a long-standing ambition to build a new theatre for Reading which would cement its reputation as an artistic and cultural centre in the region. The Hexagon theatre has served Reading fantastically for nearly 40 years now. Anyone who has attended a show there will have fond memories of it. Longer term however, Reading needs a new theatre. The cost of maintaining The Hexagon is already high and will only increase over time. Whilst of its time, the design of the building also limits it greatly as a performance venue. The start of the procurement route is a key landmark in what will be a lengthy process. The severe financial limitations the Council is under means we need to look at creative ways of delivering modern new local facilities and finding a delivery partner to fund a new theatre is one way of doing that. The council for its part would provide the land for the new theatre to be built. No decisions have been made on location at this stage, but the sites option appraisal will look at all available options and the continuity of theatre provision will be key to our thinking.”


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