Reading prison to host theatre group
Rabble will preview a major production they are working on
Professional theatre company, RABBLE Theatre, have been given exclusive permission to perform inside Reading Gaol this summer.
In an unprecedented move and for the first time since Ziran Education purchased the site, Reading prison’s doors will open to the public for a rare event, produced by Reading’s award-winning professional theatre company, RABBLE.
Audiences will be taken through the site into the Victorian prison’s Old Chapel, where one of England’s greatest playwrights, Oscar Wilde, was cruelly punished for making eye contact with a fellow male prisoner whilst incarcerated for the “crime” of homosexuality. Here, inside this space, RABBLE will be presenting the public with a rare deep dive into the professional creative process behind their new play, William the Conqueror, written by associate writer, Beth Flintoff.
The event will take place on Saturday 28th June, 2025.
Introducing the event will be actor and artistic director, Toby Davies, who played Henry I in the acclaimed Henry I, which will eventually settle as part two of RABBLE’s Conquerors Trilogy.
Beth Flintoff, who is also associate writer at London’s Royal Court, will present an overview of the extraordinary story, before RABBLE’s associate director, Hal Chambers discusses the world that he and the RABBLE team are creating. Hal will then introduce scenes from the play, performed by the professional cast. Fight Director Dani Mac and Movement Director Gareth Taylor will explain how they’re merging combat and movement with new influences to capture the chaos of war, before electronic composer Benjamin Hudson will demonstrate live how he is creating the soundtrack. Project partners and specialists associated with the prison itself will also present to the audience.
With investment from Arts Council England, the project is being developed ahead of the Conqueror’s millennium birthday in 2027/8, when RABBLE plan a national tour of the show.
Exciting
Toby Davies, RABBLE’s artistic director said: “RABBLE in the Gaol is an exciting prospect. We know the prison well, having campaigned since 2012 for it to be saved for artistic purposes. What happened to Oscar Wilde was wrong and sad, but if we can produce thought-provoking, life-affirming theatre in the space, then perhaps that’s a little green carnation of justice. We hope that our work paves the way for other artistic ventures to take place inside this extraordinary historical site.”
Further details including timings and tickets will be released by RABBLE Theatre soon.