Planning

Pantomime Procurement

READING BOROUGH COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

06 May 2026 at 19:30

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Reading Borough Council is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process for a seasonal pantomime at The Hexagon, a prominent entertainment venue in Reading. This initiative is part of the council's early market engagement activities aimed at understanding market capacity and exploring potential procurement routes. The procurement, titled "Pantomime Procurement," falls under the industry category of entertainment services, with the procurement method designed to ensure compliance with public sector regulations and secure best value. A soft market engagement notice was issued on 6th May 2026, with a response deadline set for 20th May 2026. The council is eager to understand current market trends and assess producer capabilities in preparation for inviting formal tenders in the autumn of 2026, with the new contract set to begin by 1st October 2026. The project is valuable as it supports community involvement and ensures the continuation of a significant entertainment programme benefitting both the local community and The Hexagon's strategic plans.

This tender presents an exciting business growth opportunity for companies specialising in entertainment and specifically pantomime production. Organisations with expertise in delivering high-quality entertainment services for venues similar in size to The Hexagon, which seats 960, will find this particularly beneficial. The council seeks insights on commercial and innovation opportunities, with a focus on growth in box office sales, audience engagement, and improved accessibility. This contract, valued at approximately £1,155,000 GBP, offers expansive scope for creative development, marketing, and operational planning, providing a dynamic platform for companies committed to long-term and innovative partnerships. Businesses experienced in risk-sharing commercial models and those prepared to contribute to local employment and sustainability practices are especially well-suited to take advantage of this strategic procurement, thereby enhancing their portfolio and market reach in the vibrant cultural sector of Reading.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Pantomime Procurement

Notice Description

The Hexagon, Reading's largest entertainment venue, delivers a wide-ranging and diverse programme of events throughout the year. The annual pantomime represents the most commercially significant and strategically important component of the venue's programme. In 2022, a formal procurement process was undertaken to appoint Imagine Theatre as the pantomime production partner. This contract is now approaching its conclusion, with Aladdin (2026/27) being the final production under the current agreement, which ends in February 2027. To ensure continuity of delivery, audience engagement, and timely marketing and production planning, The Hexagon must enter into a new pantomime production contract by Autumn 2026, enabling full preparation for the 2027/28 pantomime season. The appointment of a pantomime production partner is a critical procurement for The Hexagon, given the pantomime's status as the venue's most commercially significant and strategically important annual event. A formal procurement process is required to ensure compliance with public sector procurement regulations, secure best value, promote fair competition, and mitigate financial and operational risk. Early market engagement and timely contract award are essential to enable sufficient lead-in time for creative development, casting, production planning, and marketing activity, all of which typically commence 12-18 months in advance of delivery.

Planning Information

SOFT MARKET ENGAGEMENT NOTICE Seasonal Pantomime Production Venue: The Hexagon Local Authority: Reading Borough Council Engagement Reference: SOFT MARKET ENGAGEMENT NOTICE Issue Date: 06/05/2026 Response Deadline: 20/05/2026 ________________________________________ 1. Purpose of this Engagement RBC is undertaking a Soft Market Engagement exercise in advance of a potential procurement process for the delivery of a seasonal pantomime at The Hexagon. The purpose of this exercise is to: • Understand current market capacity and appetite • Explore viable commercial and contractual models • Inform the proposed procurement route and specification • Identify innovation, audience development and community engagement opportunities This is not a call for competition and does not commit the Council to commence a procurement process. ________________________________________ 2. Venue Overview • Auditorium capacity: 960 • Typical performance run: 48 performances from Early Dec - Early Jan • Average pantomime attendance: 35,000 • Technical specification summary: Please follow the link https://tinyurl.com/HexagonTechSpec The Council is particularly interested in understanding how producers can support: • Box office growth • Risk mitigation • Community participation • Accessibility and inclusive programming ________________________________________ 3. Engagement Format The Council proposes: • Written responses to this questionnaire • Optional 1:1 virtual engagement meetings (30-45 minutes) • Potential supplier engagement event (if appropriate) All participating organisations will receive the same information to ensure transparency. ________________________________________ Supplier Response Questionnaire 1. Organisation Overview • Company name and registration details • Years trading • Summary of pantomime production experience • Experience in similar sized Local Authority venues. ________________________________________ 2. Market Insight Please outline: • Current trends in regional pantomime production • Emerging commercial models (guarantee, risk-share, hybrid) • Typical production budget ranges for venues of comparable scale • Casting strategies and impact on financial performance ________________________________________ 3. Commercial Structures For a venue of 960 please indicate: • Preferred financial model and rationale • Typical box office splits (if risk-share) • Minimum performance run to ensure viability • Key cost drivers affecting pricing Indicative figures are welcome at this stage (non-binding). ________________________________________ 4. Creative & Audience Development • How do you tailor pantomime scale to venue size? • What marketing assets do you typically provide? • Strategies for reaching new or underrepresented audiences • Examples of community or education engagement delivered ________________________________________ 5. Risk & Delivery Considerations • Key risks in delivering pantomime in the current market • Mitigation strategies • Lead-in time required for casting and production build • Technical or scheduling constraints the Council should consider ________________________________________ 6. Innovation & Added Value • Digital integration (streaming, social media campaigns, influencer marketing) • Environmental sustainability practices • Local employment / skills development opportunities ________________________________________ 4. Confidentiality Information provided will be used solely to inform procurement strategy. Commercially sensitive information will not be disclosed publicly. ________________________________________ 5. Next Steps Following this engagement, the Council may: • Refine its delivery model • Publish a formal procurement notice • Decide not to proceed

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0692b3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041646-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

92300000 - Entertainment services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,155,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 May 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
20 May 20266 days to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Sep 2026 - 1 Oct 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
READING BOROUGH COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
READING
Postcode
RG1 2LU
Post Town
Reading
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ16 Berkshire West
Delivery Location
TLJ11 Berkshire
Local Authority
Reading
Electoral Ward
Abbey
Westminster Constituency
Reading Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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