What's on in Reading this month

The sun is starting to shine and the choice of things to see and do in Reading in April is equally stellar! The month kicks off with plenty of Easter holiday fun for kids, and also offers up some tip-top tribute shows, plenty of cracking comedy, some icons of stage and screen and plenty of food and drink too! So check out our highlights of What’s On in Reading in April – and, as always, don’t forget to check whatsonreading.com for so much, much more!

Easter Holiday Fun for kids – 6-21 April

There’s plenty of school holiday fun for kids and teens all over town this Easter – from cracking Easter Egg trails in the town centre, Caversham Court and Basildon Park to performing arts workshops from Stageability Reading and Reading Rep Theatre, to live performances at The Hexagon, South Street and Reading Minster, and much more besides! The words “I’m bored” won’t ever slip from their mouths!

Exit 6 Short Film Showcase - 3 April

Exit 6 Film Festival is a vibrant celebration of independent cinema that takes place in the heart of Basingstoke. Ahead of this year’s edition, they’re taking a trip to Reading for a special showcase evening at the Biscuit Factory featuring films from years gone by, so you can get a flavour of how amazing the Exit 6 Film Festival selection is every year.

Cracking Comedy – various dates

Comedy shows of all shapes and sizes crop up all over town this month. At South Street, enjoy the likes of Nabil Abdulrashid and Ania Magilano. The Hexagon has Sophie McCartney, Jamali Maddix, Henning Wehn and Strictly faves Ellie Taylor and Chris McCausland. There’s intimate shows with a local edge from Stand and Deliver Comedy Club and Comedy in Progress. And improv fun from Mad Monkey Improv and Spontaneous Potter.

Top Tributes – various dates

There's plenty of top tribute action coming up this month, starting with a bumper opening weekend!

On Saturday 5 April, The Flowing Spring presents a double-bill of doubles, with a special acoustic set from Bowie tribbers Moonage, followed by Jagged Little Alanis. And on Sunday 6 April, the Bootleg Beatles return to the Hexagon with a show centred on the Fab Four on film, with songs from A Hard Day’s Night, Help!, Magical Mystery Tour, Yellow Submarine and Let it Be. And there's plenty more top tribute action throughout April, too, celebrating the music of Genesis and Camel, Tina and Taylor, Coldplay, the Crüe and the Chilli Peppers!

Tim Rice: My Life in Musicals - 11 April

Sir Tim Rice, the multi-award-winning, internationally renowned lyricist, returns to The Hexagon with his extraordinary live musical theatre event “My Life In Musicals – I Know Him So Well”. The show will see Tim Rice reflect on his illustrious career at the heart of musical theatre, sharing anecdotes behind the songs along with stories of his life. Plus live performances from the wonderful catalogue of songs that are synonymous with his name and that of his collaborators from an array of some of the UK’s leading West End singers and musicians

Food & Drink Festivals – various dates

The precursor to summer festival season brings three tasty events to town! Over the Easter weekend, Cheese Feast returns to Blue Collar Corner, featuring cheese-centric street food of all kinds – and cheesy music to match! South Street teams with Dolphin Brewery and plenty more craft beer makers both local and national for Stage Craft on 26 & 27 April. And the Reading Vegan Fiesta returns to Forbury Gardens on 26 April with plenty of vegan foods, produce and fun!

Walk Reading guided walks – 18, 19 & 21 April

If you fancy spending the Easter weekend getting to know Reading a little bit better, Walk Reading has a choice of local history walks that can let you do just that. Learn about our town’s part in the history of photography, explore the Abbey, or get stuck into an introduction to Reading’s heritage.

Scott Bradlee's PostModern Jukebox – 24 April

Enter a parallel musical universe where modern-day earworms and iconic pop hits alike are reimagined in classic genres like 1920s jazz, Swing, Doo-wop and Motown, and brought to life by a cast of some of the world’s best singers, dancers, and instrumentalists. Think “The Great Gatsby” meets “Sinatra at the Sands” meets “Back To The Future”!

Reading Brick Show – 26 & 27 April

The Reading Brick Show returns to Loddon Valley Leisure Centre for another weekend where everything is awesome! It’s one of the largest LEGO® shows in the UK, bringing together fantastic models made by the most talented builders, alongside lots of fun games and activities for visitors of all ages, from robot battles to race tracks and much more!

Reading Card Show – 26 April

A brand new event for collectors, enthusiasts, and traders of all types of collectible cards comes to Reading this month. Whether you're passionate about Pokémon cards, other TCGs, or rare and vintage collectibles, this show is the perfect place to buy, sell, and trade with fellow collectors and vendors from all over the area.

Specialized Reading – 26 April

The Specialized Project CIC return to The Facebar for another day of ska/reggae/punk music all for charity, supporting Teenage Cancer Trust. Featuring plenty of local luminaries like The Skavengers, Highwasters and more, plus Mingo's Caribbean BBQ to keep your skanking energy levels up. Join them from 1pm till late.