What's on in Reading this month

The clocks may have gone back – but there’s plenty of great events to look forward to in Reading this November! We’ve got national treasures paying us a visit, local theatre taking to the stage and local choirs in full voice. We’ve also got film and music festivals, lots of geeky events and start to get festive, too, with the first of this year’s Christmas events kicking off this month. As usual, these are but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to What’s On in Reading this November – do head to whatsonreading.com for so much more!

Reading Museum’s Behind the Scenes Collection Tour | 5 Nov

Ever wanted to see what you can’t see at Reading Museum? This is another rare opportunity to tour their offsite store in Whitley, where most of the collections are kept. You’ll be led by an experienced guide and even have the chance to handle some objects!

Local Theatre | various dates

Our homegrown theatrical talents take to stages all over town this month. The Triangle Players present “unusual suspense play” Take Away the Lady on 6-8 Nov; Mostly G&S present Gilbert & Sullivan’s Patience on 13-15 Nov; The Mill at Sonning ready their big seasonal musical My Fair Lady from 20 Nov; and Progress Theatre present an adaptation of Tess of the d’Urbervilles on 24-29 Nov.

Through A Different Lens Film Festival | 8 Nov

Through A Different Lens love film, and love to bring people together. On top of this month’s regular Creative Connection event, they’ll be bringing their second film festival to Reading Biscuit Factory, with a range of screenings, panel discussions and more, showcasing filmmaking and highlighting the independent film industry.

Griff Rhys Jones: The Cat’s Pyjamas | 8 Nov

Griff Rhys Jones is back on the road – and coming to The Concert Hall – after a successful return to stand-up last year. The show always varies as Griff rambles on the developing national permacrisis. Age. Family. Fraud. Nostalgia. The Tik Tok generation. Crocodile smuggling and noodling in Australia. Travel, dogs, hotels, drink and midnight trains.

Nowt as choir as folk | various dates

November sees plenty of our local choirs in full voice with four concerts showing off their range – both vocal and thematic. Made Holy By Their Dreams is Reading Bach Choir’s concert of remembrance on 8 Nov; Reading Phoenix Choir are Singing For Autism in the wonderful setting of Douai Abbey on 15 Nov; Reading Haydn Choir performs Joseph Haydn’s 'The Creation' also on 15 Nov; and on 22 Nov, Reading Festival Chorus return to Wesley Church to perform two wonderful choral pieces - Poulenc's Gloria and Coleridge's Requiem. And on top of all this, Gareth Malone – the man who got the nation singing – returns to The Hexagon with Sing-A-Long-A-Gareth: 50 Years of Song on 5 Nov!

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: An Evening at the Opera | 8 Nov

The RPO return to The Hexagon – one of their home venues – for an indulgent evening basking in the soaring melodies and musical drama of the Opera. Immerse yourself in a majestic array of operatic classics, including music by Puccini, Verdi and Gershwin, all performed by renowned soprano Francesca Chiejina and up-and-coming tenor Sam Furness.

Grayson Perry: Are You Good? | 10 Nov

The renowned artist takes to the stage at The Hexagon in a new show where he offers to help you, the audience, find out if you really are thoroughly good or maybe quite evil… but in a fun way. With lots of audience participation (don’t worry, no one leaves unscathed) and a few silly songs you’ll have an entertaining evening and come out with your core values completely in tatters. It’s time to update what is a virtue and what is a sin. No biggie.

Get your geek on | various dates

If your idea of culture is “pop culture” then November brings all manner of geeky goodness. On 14 Nov, The Ogretones are back in town to bring you all your favourite songs from the Shrek movie soundtracks; the next night sees movie themes of a different type with Ultimate Film Music: An Orchestral Tribute at The Great Hall; Horror Fiction’s Grand Frightener Garth Marenghi returns to the Concert Hall on 16 Nov with his latest tome, This Bursted Earth; TransFormers fans celebrate on 22 Nov with the return of TFNation’s Mini-Con Reading; and on 30 Nov, stars from the worlds of Red Dwarf, Doctor Who, ALIENS and more beam down for the winter Reading Comic Con.

The Coach House Open Studios | 15 & 16 Nov

Get ready to be inspired and discover amazing art in a charming setting with live music and CAKE! Based just outside Reading in a beautiful old coach house (see, not just a clever name), the annual open studios event gives you a chance to meet 15 talented artists & makers, explore their workspaces, and purchase one-of-a-kind pieces.

Reading Rising Festival | 15 & 16 Nov

Reading Rising returns for its sixth year, once again bringing big names, local heroes, and lesser-known-but-upcoming-bands together on one exciting line-up of alt-rock goodness. This year’s line-up boasts the likes of Still Remains, Millie Manders & The ShutUp and InAir. And for the first time, it’s a full two-day affair, with back-to-back all-dayers boasting 22 bands across the two rooms with no clashes!

The Life of Brian and Celebrating Terry Jones with Michael Palin | 15 Nov

A double-bill of Python events at The Hexagon celebrating the life of Terry Jones with iconic Michael Palin. In the afternoon, he’ll provide a special introduction to a screening of The Life of Brian, and in the evening he’ll be in conversation with Sanjeev Bhaskar to share stories of his late friend. All in support of Slapstick Festival.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… | various dates

Christmas is coming – and sooner than you might think, with the first festive events hitting Reading as early as 4 Nov with A Fairytale for Christmas at The Hexagon. On 15 Nov, it’s the big Christmas ights switch on in the town centre, the opening of the new Illuminate Reading light trail in the Abbey Quarter, and the first day of the seasonal installation at Basildon Park. November also serves up plenty of Christmas markets from/at Creativ.Spaces, Modern Makers Collective, Reading Town Hall and more, plus seasonal shows like It’s A Wonderful Life at Shinfield Players Theatre and the return of Reading Rep Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol. Plus winter workshops, festive food and more!