What's on in Reading this month

May brings with it a couple of bank holiday weekends and LOTS of Reading’s Festivals! Whether you like comedy, books, walks or live music (or are a child) – there’s a festival for you this month. We also kick off Reading’s celebrations of Jane Austen at 250 this month, plus there’s plenty of theatre, live music, the odd Strictly star and more! So check out our highlights of What’s On in Reading in May – and, as always, don’t forget to check whatsonreading.com for so much, much more!

Jane Austen at 250 – various dates

2025 marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, and given that she spent some of her formative years boarding at school here in Reading, there are plenty of anniversary celebrations planned to mark her life and times, starting this May with a series of talks at Reading Museum, plus a few walks, too!

Local theatre shows – various dates

Our local theatres, both professional and amateur, are taking to their respective stages this month with a variety of shows to suit all audiences. The Mill at Sonning presents a world premiere adaptation of Death Comes To Pemberley; Reading Rep Theatre turn Jerome K Jerome on his head with Three Hens In A Boat; Progress Theatre serves up another darkly comic Martin McDonagh play, The Cripple of Inishmaan; Twyford Drama channel Noel Coward with Blithe Spirit; The Sainsbury’s Singers bring Shrek: The Musical to The Hexagon; and local playwright Doris Allimadi brings her latest work Double Standards to South Street.

Shlomo’s Beatbox Adventure for Kids – 3 May

World record-breaking beatboxer SK Shlomo returns to South Street with their 5-star sell-out show Shlomo's Beatbox Adventure for Kids! Anybody can become one of this sonic superhero’s sidekicks in a world of funny sounds, brilliant noises, and cool music, whether they’re aged 1 or 101

Bank Holiday music all-dayers – 3 & 4 May

Fancy spending a day taking in band after band in one of Reading’s finest music-loving bars? At The Butler, Shadow Promotions serve up punk & ska at The Shadow Shuffle II, and a Hardcore Matinee on the Sunday. Meanwhile, The Purple Turtle will spend Saturday Rock 'n' Rollin' with Little Dave and The Sun Sessions, and on Sunday have a Punk Pile-Up of their own, headlined by punk “supergroup” Class of ’79!

An Audience with Aggers and Tuffers – 6 May

Cricket legends Jonathan "Aggers" Agnew and Phil "Tuffers" Tufnell are coming to The Hexagon, ready to bowl you over with their new tour of stories and anecdotes from the world of professional cricket. Whether you’re a die-hard cricket enthusiast craving insider stories, or looking for a fun evening out, Aggers and Tuffers are sure to entertain.

Reading’s Festivals take over – various dates

Summer festival season starts with not one but several bangs this month! Sat 10 May sees the return of all-day music festival Are You Listening? as well as the kick-off events for Reading Walks Festival and Reading Children’s Festival. 15-18 May brings this year’s Reading Indie Comedy Festival while 17 May sees the University of Reading welcome you to campus with their Community Festival. And the late-May bank holiday weekend serves up The Cunning Man’s Rhythm & Brews Festival, Crazy Cowboy Festival at The Facebar, and the all-new, all-different literary festival Well Read at Wasing.

Ultimate Film Music in Concert  – 10 May

The magic of cinema comes to life with breathtaking orchestral performances when the Ultimate Film Music concert returns to the Great Hall. Immerse yourself in a captivating evening featuring the iconic music of legendary composers such as John Williams, Hans Zimmer and Stephen Scwartz, with unforgettable pieces from Star Wars, Gladiator, James Bond, Wicked and more!

Reading Comic Con – 11 May

Reading’s geekiest day out returns with more special guests, photo props, stalls, cosplay and all the usual comic con fun! Meet stars from Doctor Who, including the Sixth Doctor Colin Baker and some children’s TV legends, get a custom piece of art from actual comic artists, pose with displays based on your favourite films and games and take home something special from the many traders!

Miki Berenyi Trio – 18 May

Former Lush frontwoman Miki Berenyi comes to the Facebar with her trio, featuring Kevin ‘Moose’ McKillop (of Moose) on guitar and Oliver Cherer (Gilroy Mere, Aircooled) on bass. They’ll serve up their “uniquely slanted strain of dream pop”, an often euphoric and sometimes melancholic mix of guitars and electronica – but you can probably expect some classics from their back catalogues too!

Kai Widdrington: Evolution – 19 May

Strictly star Kai Widdrington returns to The Hexagon with his brand-new tour, promising an enthralling journey through dance that showcases his versatility and passion. The show will feature breathtaking choreography, stunning visuals, and an incredible cast of dancers. Expect a mix of classic Ballroom, Latin, and innovative dance routines that highlight Kai's extraordinary skill and creativity.

…EARNEST? – 31 May

The Edinburgh Fringe smash-hit …Earnest? arrives at The Hexagon following rave reviews ahead of an eagerly awaited West End run. When a traditional production of Oscar Wilde’s classic play gets underway, everything seems to be going perfectly to plan… that is, until the lead actor fails to arrive on cue and an actual audience member is chosen to star in the show. What follows is a madcap medley of impromptu games and spontaneous solutions as the desperate director does his best to keep this faithful production going.