The Hexagon theatre in Reading is set to undergo significant improvements after Reading Borough Council secured £2.06 million in funding from Arts Council England. Announced on 14 April 2026, the grant is part of the government’s Arts Everywhere Fund and aims to ensure the venue remains a modern, accessible space for the community ahead of its 50th anniversary in 2027.
The council will contribute an additional £230,500 in match funding to the project, which was approved by its policy committee. The upgrades will focus on the theatre’s ground floor, where the ageing retractable seating system will be completely replaced. Visitors can expect more comfortable seats, better sightlines to the stage, and improved accessibility for wheelchair users. Further safety and accessibility enhancements include the replacement of approximately 60 fire doors, drainage improvements, and the installation of additional handrails and stable fixtures for elderly and mobility-restricted guests.
The construction work is planned to begin over the summer of 2026. The venue will remain closed for an extended period to accommodate these upgrades alongside the ongoing construction of the new Studio Theatre and a project to decarbonise the building’s heating system. The latter project involves installing ground source heat pumps, which could make The Hexagon the first theatre in the country to use naturally occurring warm water from a chalk aquifer 120 metres underground to heat and cool the auditorium.
These improvements are part of a wider commitment to maintaining the long-term future of the venue. Since opening on 7 November 1977, The Hexagon has served as a central hub for arts in the area, offering a capacity that ranges from 946 for proscenium performances to 1,200 for seated concerts and 1,686 for standing events.
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