What's on this month

The nights are drawing in – and there are plenty of events to draw you into Reading this October, too! Plenty of local organisations are helping to celebrate Black History Month with events and activities, we’ve got visits from top authors and comedians, and our local theatres and orchestras kick off their new seasons. And, of course, lots of events that go BUMP! in the night with spooky Halloween events all throughout the month, too! As usual, these are but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to What’s On in Reading this October – do head to whatsonreading.com for so much more!

Black History Month in Reading – various dates

Reading once again offers up wonderful selection of events and activities that celebrate the contribution our diverse black community has made, and continues to make, to our town.

There's theatre at The Hexagon and South Street and from Berzerk Productions. There’s live music at The Rising Sun Arts Centre. Through a Different Lens brings films and filmmakers to Reading Biscuit Factory. There are talks from Reading Museum and Reading Humanists. And CultureMix Arts offer plenty of classes, workshops and performances from steel pans to soca dancing!

Halloween In Reading – various dates

Spooky season lasts all month long (and, indeed, spills into the first weekend of November!) with oodles of events that will trick and treat in equal measure. We’ve got ghost stories both real and possibly real, short horror films, pumpkin carving (and cooking!), Halloween “specials” of some of our regular nights out, and a pair of events that put the “boo!” into boo-urlesque!

Don't miss Reading's Monster Mash (26 October - 3rd November), a spooky trail around the town centre to locate 9 monsters hiding. It's your job to track them down! It's not as simple as just spotting them though...each monster has its own name that you need to find and note down on your map.

Authors in local bookshops – various dates

Our local bookshops aren’t just where you’ll find a cracking read – this month, you may also find the people who wrote them! Fourbears Books in Caversham welcome Alexander McCall Smith on 3 Oct, Cressida Cowell on 11 Oct and Tom Mead on 15 Oct, while TM Logan & Victoria Selman will be “in conversation” at Waterstones on 29 Oct.

Cracking Comedians – various dates

It’s another month chockfull with tip-top comedy talent bringing laughs to venues all over town. South Street hosts Tom Stade on 3 Oct and Edinburgh winner Amy Gledhill on 26 Oct. Mates Rates Comedy Club welcomes Jay Handley on 10 Oct and Jacob Hawley on 18 Oct. At The Concert Hall it’s Grace Campbell on 17 Oct and Rachel Parris on 31 Oct. Just The Tonic has a special show with Alfie Brown on 29 Oct. And The Hexagon has Simon Brodkin on 26 Oct and an all-star line-up including Rory Bremner and Jo Brand for Stand Out Stand Up on 14 Oct.

Fun Palaces at Reading Libraries – 5 Oct

Reading Libraries will join hundreds of Fun Palaces nationally and internationally set to explode with FREE and fun activities for all, sharing and celebrating the skills of everyone. Each of the library branches will host session where you can master new skills from your neighbours, share hobbies with friends old and new and celebrate the passions and enthusiasms of all of us.

Kids Comedy Club Woodley - 6 Oct

Laughter Craft are launching a brand-new comedy club – one that’s in the middle of the day.. and aimed at anyone aged above 6! No rudeness, but plenty of hilarity with this incredible line up of comedians including BGT’s Jonny Awsum and Howard Read, who will deliver a family-friendly show to remember!

Autumn Orchestral Concerts – various dates

The University of Reading’s Great Hall is still something of a hidden gem for lots of people – but a wonderful venue for our classical community. This month, you can experience autumn concerts from West Forest Sinfonia (featuring guest soloist Antonina Suhanova, playing Rachmaninov’s wonderful third Piano Concerto) on 6 Oct, and an all-French programme from the Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra on 19 Oct. And on 23 Oct, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra present their first concert of the season in their Reading home of The Hexagon, including Elgar’s richly melodic Cello Concerto, brought to life by “unrivalled musician” (Le Figaro) Anastasia Kobekina.

Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells Live In Concert – 6 Oct

The 50^th anniversary celebrations of this famed piece of music continue with a return performance at The Hexagon – fitting, as Mike Oldfield once called Reading home! The Tubular Bells UK Autumn tour will feature an expansive live group, conducted and arranged by Oldfield’s long-term collaborator Robin Smith, which will see the iconic Tubular Bells performed in full, as well as other works by Mike Oldfield including Moonlight Shadow, Summit Day, Family Man and Ommadawn.

Queenz – Drag Me To The Disco! – 7 Oct

As seen on TV – and headlining this year’s Reading Pride Festival – these drag divas sing like Whitney and dance like Britney! And this year, Queenz bring an electrifying, live vocal, drag-stravaganza, where Dancing Queenz and Disco Dreams collide for the party of a lifetime. Expect sequins-aplenty and in the ultimate celebration of powerhouse popstars & dazzling disco divas.

Local Theatre seasons begin! – various dates

Reading’s thriving theatre community kick off their 24-25 seasons with shows to suit all tastes. Twyford Drama explore grief and moving on in Entertaining Angels on 10-12 Oct, and on 16-19 Oct, Progress Theatre present Writefest, their annual celebration of new writing with seven short plays.

CODE by Justice in Motion – 12 Oct

Justice in Motion’s urban odyssey into County Lines and Knife Crime is a spectacular blend of physical theatre, parkour and trials bike stunts with live rap and music. On an urban playground, skilled athletes and performers show what is happening to our young people exploited by organised drug crime gangs. Performed twice on Sat 12 Oct at John Madejski Academy.

Rotary Charity Art & Craft Fair – 25-27 Oct

The Rotary Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh is proud to present its 14th annual Reading Charity Art & Craft Fair. It promises to be another wonderful collection of paintings, ceramics and crafts by local artists, with pieces to suit all homes and all pockets. And this year, they’re raising money for Feeding Communities, who provide healthy meals to support families struggling from food poverty or food insecurity within our local community.