Guided building visit behind the scenes of the extension and refurbishment of The Hexagon theatre, run by RIBA Berkshire and RIBA Oxfordshire.
The Hexagon is opening its doors for a behind-the-scenes building visit on Thursday 5 November, a rare look at the work currently happening on one of Reading's most recognisable landmarks. The visit is run by RIBA Berkshire and RIBA Oxfordshire, courtesy of Feltham Construction, and it takes a small group inside the ongoing building work at the theatre.
For context, the project is extending and refurbishing the original brutalist Hexagon, which dates back to 1977. The main change is that an underused single-storey backstage block is being replaced by a compact new building. Inside that new build, they're putting in a 200-seat adaptable auditorium — which can hold 300 standing — alongside a flexible foyer and rehearsal studio. There's also a new scene dock and new back-of-house facilities for performers. The whole thing was designed by Haworth Tomkins and is being delivered by Feltham Construction.
The new layout changes how the venue works: the existing theatre and the new studio space will be able to run at the same time, which means the Hexagon can broaden its programme. Instead of one main stage, it'll have two working spaces side by side. The visit lets you see that transition from the old 1977 concrete to the new build while it's still a work in progress.
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It's a short one — an hour on site — and it's on a Thursday afternoon, so you'll need to clear a bit of time in the middle of the day. The visit starts at 15:00, with assembly between 2.30pm and 2.45pm at The Hexagon, Queens Walk, Reading RG1 7QF. Tickets are between £5.04 and £9.38 via Eventbrite. Because it's an active site, you'll need hard hats, hi-vis coats or vests, and sturdy footwear, and there's no photography allowed on site.
