Kenneth Branagh named as Theatre Patron

25 July 2011, 11:00 | Updated: 25 July 2011, 11:06

Kenneth Branagh has been named as patron of the Progress Theatre in Reading, where he started his career.

It's the theatre the Oscar nominated actor joined as a teenager, after moving to Berkshire from Northern Ireland. He's said he is thrilled:

"I am delighted to be appointed as a Patron of the Progress Theatre in Reading.  I relocated to Reading at the age of 9 from Belfast and my stage career started at the Progress when I was a teenager.  Next year the theatre celebrates its 65th anniversary and continues to maintain a quality of production that remains second-to-none.”

The actor and director is known for his Shakespeare adaptations and the theatre is running its own open air Shakespeare festival this summer.