A Reading theatre company has received fantastic support from Hollywood actress and local girl Kate Winslet after announcing their upcoming production of Henry I.

Rabble Theatre is set to start it's tour in the historic burial ground of King Henry 1 within Reading Abbey before transferring the modern play to Winchester Great Hall and the Actor’s Church in Covent Gardens.

The English actress has said that she is thrilled that such ‘diverse and inclusive’ theatre is coming to her ‘community-rich’ hometown where she started out.

“It's phenomenal that RABBLE have gained the permission to stage their ambitious production, directly above his burial site, at Reading Abbey," Kate said.

"As a proud Reading girl, I’m thrilled that theatre of such a high quality, that is both diverse and inclusive, is coming to my community-rich home town this summer”

Henry I is a play that celebrates the work the king did to try to achieve gender equality and the incredible women in his life.

Henry’s long journey to humility is a painful one, concluding with his choice to build Reading Abbey "for my sins”, which is where the physical production will be staged.

RABBLE Theatre’s production of Henry I will include choreography and a soundtrack, co-created by composer Rosaline Steele and electronic dance DJ, Benjamin Hudson.

It opens in Reading from 13th June and promises to be one of the major cultural events of recent times, for the region.