What's on in Reading this month

It’s a new year – and there’s oodles of new events, classes and activities to get stuck into this month in Reading! From new year pantos from our local amateur theatres to celebrating grassroots music with Independent Venue Week, to top tribute acts, some cracking comedy and plenty of ways to try something new. As usual, these are but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to What’s On in Reading this January – do head to whatsonreading.com for so much more!

Try Something New In The New Year | various dates

If your resolution is to try something new - from getting fit, picking up a new skill or hobby, or meeting new people, we've got plenty of opportunities for you! From open rehearsals with local choirs to beginners’ dance classes, instrument lessons, wine tastings and more, there's plenty of new things to try this new year, whatever your age or level of experience. And we've also got play auditions, volunteering opportunities and more ways to find something new on our Get Involved page, too.

Top Tributes | various dates

Even better than the real thing? A flurry of top tribute shows take to various stages in Reading this month, giving you a chance to enjoy all manner of music, whatever your taste. At South Street, Moonage play the Best of Bowie, while Oasiz roll with the Gallaghers. Sub89 has GhostUK pay tribute to the legendary Swedish rock band Ghost, as well as the return of mock-Mozza & Marr with The Smyths, while the Face Bar has mods Pretty Green: A Tribute To The Jam and metallers Iwrong Maiden. And, bizarrely, there are TWO Cure tributes this month – The Flowing Spring serves up Curiosa while Stogfest Promotions proffer The Cureheads!

New Year Pantos | various dates

Think panto is (ahem) behind you? OH NO IT ISN’T! Three of our local amateur theatres bring their annual New Year pantomimes this month, all with a sleepy theme to keep you wide awake! In the south, Shinfield Players Theatre present Agathe Twisty & The Murder In Panto Land from 16 Jan; in the east, Twyford Drama goes further east for Aladdin, also from 17 Jan; and in the west, Triangle Players set sail with The Adventures of Sindbad the Sailor from 29 Jan.

SITELINES presents The Sound | 21-24 Jan

South Street & The University of Reading Film, Theatre & Television present an original, immersive production celebrating Reading’s Soundsystem culture in the 1970s, where a handful of Reading school kids helped build a scene that will take them around the country and establish Reading at the epicentre of a cultural phenomenon.

The Choir of Royal Holloway | 22 Jan

Considered to be one of the finest mixed-voice collegiate choirs in Great Britain, the Choir of Royal Holloway are the only choir to give a weekly concert performance. This week they come to The Concert Hall for a concert including pieces by Purcell, Holst, Miškinis and more.

Not A Band | 23 Jan

Championed by Portishead’s Geoff Barrow and Barry from EastEnders, Not A Band are four middle-aged men blasting out all manner of 80s TV & Movie theme tunes, from The A Team to Only Fools & Horses, Baywatch to Back The Future. Possibly the most fun you’ll have all month.

Monologues and Bubbly | 24 Jan

Progress Theatre presents an elegant, theatrical fundraiser evening where you can expect a sparkling welcome and the chance to experience four brand-new monologues, written by local writers and performed exclusively for this event by Progress members. Formal dress is encouraged… or go full theatrical glamour!

Independent Venue Week | 26 Jan - 1 Feb

Independent Venue Week (IVW) is the UK’s annual 7-day celebration of independent music & arts venues and the people that own, run and work in them. This year, The Facebar is the standard-bearer for Reading's independent venues, hosting two gigs for Heavy Pop – country rockers Brown Horse on 26 Jan and punk duo The Pill on 28 Jan – and a third for Future Transmissions – modern-day dreamboat Tom Webber on 29 Jan.

Stand and Deliver Comedy Club | 29 Jan

Stand up comedy. Cinema seating! That’s the name of the game for this monthly comedy club that makes its home at Reading Biscuit Factory. This month’s headliner is Joey Page, an accomplished and hilarious headline comic with a unique take on the everyday and a fan in Harry Hill. Matt Welcome will open the show, with support from local laughmaker Carl Richard.

The Double-Barrelled Pop-up Ceilidh | 29 Jan

London's wildest ceilidh band, Fiddle Paradiddle, return to the Double-Barrelled Taproom for another night of fun, drinks, and ceilidh dancing. An expert caller goes through all the steps, the band brings the dance-floor alive with their energetic nu-folk sound, and you have a cracking night dancing to jigs and reels of all kinds!

What's The Game?! - New Year, New Choice | 30 Jan

Fresh year. Fresh scenes. Same beautifully chaotic humans making it up on the spot. The talented improv comics from What's The Game?! return to Brewdog Reading with another night of hilarious fun and games where your suggestions get spun into comedy gold. If you loved Who’s Line Is It Anyway back in the day, this is for you!

The Big Show with Angelos Epithemiou & Rhys James | 31 Jan

Mates Rates Comedy Club return to The Penta Hotel for another night of cracking stand-up with two big names you’ll know from TV – the razor-sharp Rhys James (a regular on Mock The Week) and the “shambolic, weird and wonderful” comedy creation Angelos Epithemiou.