HISTORY enthusiasts hoping to share their passion for Henry I in a first-of-its-kind performance have been recognised by the town's prestigious cultural contest.

Toby Davies' play about the 12th century monarch has been nominated as a finalist in the Reading Cultural Awards in the Performance of the Year category.

Henry I was buried in Reading Abbey in 1135 and Toby's company 'Reading Between the Lines' spotted a gap in the market for a play in celebration of his extraordinary life.

"I am absolutely delighted to be recognised in this way, it means a great deal to be named as a finalist" he said.

"The awards reflect Reading's tremendous cultural history and it is wonderful to see the arts being taken seriously.

"We realised people were willing to travel to London and spend hundreds of pounds on a production, so we thought it was an ideal opportunity to establish ourselves.

"We all have a fondness for Henry I. He was an extraordinary monarch and he ruled the throne for nearly three decades. He matured into a belligerent monarch and he had a very interesting life."

Toby established Reading Between the Lines in 2012 and pursued his love of history in partnership with his skills as a professional actor.

He has toured the West End and has been able to turn his fondness for Henry I into a critically-acclaimed performance, attracting the attention of schools and the support of the University of Reading's History department.

He added: "We are delighted to be able to share our story with schools and we are grateful for the support of local businesses, who helped us to raise £74,000 to fund the Henry I performance.

"We would be delighted to win the award."

Also in the running for separate awards is the Barbados Association, recognising the 50th anniversary of the Caribbean island's independence, and the Rising Sun Arts Centre, which is a finalist in the Cultural Space of the Year category.

Andrew Taylor, music director for Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra has also been named as a finalist for the Made in Reading award.

The finalists for the Reading Cultural Awards 2017 are:
The Made in Reading Award - 
- Henry I by Reading Between The Lines
- Simonds & Son by BBC Radio Berkshire
- Pictures at Our Exhibition – Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra /Jelly/Creative People
- Walking Words by Jelly


Reading Place of Culture Ambassador Award -
- Bulmershe Ensemble
- Henry I by Reading Between The Lines
- Inside at Reading Prison by Artangel


Performance of the Year - 
- Pictures at Our Exhibition by Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra
- Henry I by Reading Between The Lines
- Sundara Karma’s concert at Reading University Students Union
- The Final Whistle at the Madejski Stadium - SITELINES
- Patti Smith reading De Profundis at Inside at Reading Prison by Artangel


Visual Arts Event of the Year - 
- Inside at Reading Prison by Artangel
- Open for Art by Jelly
- Ray Atkins at Reading Museum
- Unfinished Conversations by The Engine Room
Cultural Space of the Year - 
- Open Hand Open Space
- Rising Sun Arts Centre
- Reading Prison
- SITELINES – theatre in unusual spaces
- Caversham Court Gardens


Celebrating Reading’s Heritage Award -
- From Barbados to Reading - Barbados Association
- Hidden Abbey project
- Simonds & Son – BBC Radio Berkshire
- National Trust Reading Prison tours
- Forward in Time by Real Time

Reading Arts and Business in Partnership -
- Haslams Estate Agents
- I Do with Jacobs the Jeweller
- On Track – Reading Museum with Resourcing Solutions

Best Education Project - 
- University of Reading Art Lab
- Infamous by Berzerk Productions
- Bulmershe Ensemble
- ROOM by Jelly

Festival of the Year -
- Are You Listening?
- Oxjam
- Reading Fringe Festival
Young talent under 25 - 
- Bulmershe Ensemble
- Queer Fish by Reading Rep
- Hospital Food by Berzerk Productions
- Alice Knight - Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra
- Georgia Knight - John Madejski Academy Apprentice drama teacher


Cultural Organisation of the Year - 
- Reading Museum and Art Gallery
- Jelly
- Real Time
- Beautiful Creatures
Business innovation in the arts - 
- Light Up Reading
- Great British Bump Off with Warings
- Interface by Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre