Reading sets out programme for 'Year of the Normans'

Reading has announced its headline programme for next year’s European Year of the Normans.

2027 will see international celebrations to mark 1000 years since the birth of William the Conqueror who famously became King of England following the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Local and national journalists have been shown around the town's Norman attractions and heard details of a play about 'William the Conqueror' as part of its bid to attract new visitors to the town next year.

Year of the Normans

• RABBLE Theatre’s William the Conqueror. RABBLE Theatre (Telegraph Top 5 & Guardian Top 20 UK Show) are developing a bold new stage production that tells the extraordinary life of William the Conqueror. The play is being developed here in Reading for a national tour of the UK in autumn 2027, with major partners including Visit England, British Council and Arts Council England, as well as France’s Région Normandie and In Itinere Collectiv. William the Conqueror opens in September next year.

• Guided tours of Reading Abbey Ruins. The Abbey was built by King Henry I of England, son of William the Conqueror, in 1121 as Henry’s mausoleum. The ruins of the Norman abbey are at the heart of the modern-day town.

• Visits to see Britain’s Bayeux Tapestry - the only full-scale replica of the original Norman tapestry, which tells the story of the Norman conquest of Britain. Britain’s Bayeux Tapestry was created 140 years ago by a group of Victorian women from Staffordshire and has resided in Reading Museum for over a century. Measuring 70 metres in length, it is identical to the original in almost every aspect.

Audience

Reading museum manager Matthew Williams said:

"Suddenly its (Reading's Bayeux tapestry replica) has got a whole new audience. We're really having the 'Bayeux Bounce' here I think people want to compare they know there are differences and they want to see both while they have the opportunity.

"We're now fully booked with our Bayeux tapestry tours until June next year and there seems to be no drop off in interest so the fact that next year we'll have Waterfest in the Abbey ruins, a play about William the conqueror and many other events here gives us the chance to keep putting Reading on the map and bring people both to the museum and the town."

Developing

The Reading Year of the Normans programme is still developing and will also include medieval guided walks, a Medieval Weekend in Dinton Pastures (18/19 Sep 2027), river trips and Reading’s WaterFest. F

More information at www.visit-reading/Normans