What's on - March 2023

With the days getting that bit longer and spring starting to swing, there’s plenty of events to enjoy in Reading this March. From our local theatre troupes and choirs taking to the stage to some cracking classical concerts, top tributes and big birthday bashes for some of Reading’s finest, there’s really something for everyone. So check out our highlights of What’s On in Reading in March – and, as always, don’t forget to check whatsonreading.com for so much more!

Local theatre shows

They may not be professional, but there’s nothing amateur about our local dramatics! On 1-4 March, Shinfield Players Theatre present Last Tango in Whitby, Mike Harding’s comedy about seizing the day in your senior years. And if you liked the award-winning Banshees of Inisherin, you’ll love The Lonesome West, another of Marting McDonagh’s tale of bickering to extremes in rural Ireland – from/at Progress Theatre, 3-11 March.

SITELINES Presents: On Track

SITELINES is South Street’s programme of theatre in unusual spaces. Inspired by (and originally devised and staged during) lockdowns in 2020-21, On Track draws on true stories to follow one woman’s journey of discovery through the history of women's cycling. And before heading out on tour, it returns to its spiritual home for three shows on 1-3 March.

Confronting the Disappearances

A new exhibition by Hong Kong-born artists arrives at OpenHand OpenSpace’s 571 Oxford Rd Gallery this month. Inspired by the democratic movement in Hong Kong from 2019 to 2020, Confronting the Disappearances presents a subversive critique, reflecting the city’s devastation and the artists’ reactions to the democracy crisis, censorship and the dismantling of freedom of expression. Open Weds-Sun from 4-26 March.

The Music of Flight

Put away your trays, return your seats to an upright position and prepare to take off with Trinity Concert Band and The Music of Flight! From “Fly Me To The Moon” and “Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines” to the themes from “633 Squadron” and “Superman”, this is one concert to take you up, up and away. Departing from St Joseph's College (Terminal 1) on Saturday 4 March.

Nowt As Choir As Folk

Reading’s choral community will be in fine voice this month with several of our town’s renowned choirs performing concerts. Reading Phoenix Choir kick of coronation season with Majesty! on Sat 4 March, followed by Pangbourne Choral Society’s Magic of Mozart concert on 11 March. Friday 24 March brings this year’s Let’s Sing! Concert – the annual amateur choir competition that raises funds for the Mayor of Reading’s charities. You’ll be spoilt for choice on Sat 25 March when Reading Festival Chorus perform Haydn’s Creation and Reading Male Voice Choir present A Concert For Spring. And rounding off that big weekend is Parenthesis Choir who celebrate with their 30^th Anniversary Concert.

Centre Stage

PACT and Phantom Brewing Co team up for an evening showcasing Reading’s finest female performers to celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day. Centre Stage will feature an aerial artist, musicians, DJs and more – with all proceeds from this grass-roots community event of beer, cheer and entertainment supporting PACT’s vital work with the women, girls and families in our community.

Blue Collar Corner’s Big Birthday Weekend

On Fri 10 March, Reading’s finest purveyors of street food celebrate the first birthday of their permanent site Blue Collar Corner with a live set from viral sensation acoustic rave pioneers The Showhawk Duo. And the celebrations continue on Sun 12 March with an afternoon of acoustic music from Third Lung and friends, raising money for homeless charity Launchpad.

Tribute Through The Decades at The Hexagon

Reading’s six-sided venue is celebrating its 45^th anniversary, and this month you can re-live various past eras with some top tribute shows. 90s Live presents the hits of Britney, Oasis, Spice Girls and more on 11 March, Calling Planet Earth is all things New Romantic and 80s electronica on 17 March, and things get FAB and GEAR on 28 March as The Bootleg Beatles get the 60s swinging again!

Mike Oldfield’s TUBULAR BELLS

The official 50^th anniversary tour of Mike Oldfield’s groundbreaking work makes a stop at The Hexagon on 15 March – fitting, seeing as Oldfield was born and raised in our very town! His iconic masterpiece will be performed live with a full band, conducted and arranged by Oldfield’s long term collaborator Robin Smith.

Beat Connection

Local promoters Heavy Pop bring some of the hippest touring bands together with plenty of Reading’s own excellent artists for the 2023 edition of Beat Connection – this year taking place at St Laurence Church and expanded to two days. Friday is headlined by Porridge Radio and their potent blend of art-rock, indie-pop and post-punk, Saturday by folk/indie singer-songwriter Billie Marten.

Hooked on Classics

The Hexagon hosts an exciting weekend of classical music for all ages on 25 & 26 March. First up, a Saturday matinee to wow the little ones with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Noisy Kids: The Thrill of the Ride, an exhilarating journey filled with rollercoasters, train rides and thrilling adventures! And that evening the RPO and conductor Adam Hickcox perform pieces from Mendelsohn’s A Midsummer Night's Dream, Elgar’s Enigma Variations and more. And on Sunday it’s the return of the Henley Symphony Orchestra and works by Smetana, Beethoven and Rachmaninov.

Club Velocity’s 20th birthday gig

One of Reading’s leading music promoters celebrates hitting their double-decade of putting on grassroots music gigs in town. Club Velocity will host their 20^th Birthday Gig at The Rising Sun Arts Centre with three firm favourites from over the years – folkies The August List, electronica from The May and the hard-rocking Eat Daddy Eat. Elsewhere this month they host Chumbawumba’s Dunstan Bruce for a special screening of his film I Get Knocked Down with Q&A on 11 March, and welcome looping sensation Funke & The Two-Tone Baby on 16 March.