ON THURSDAY a sometimes forgotten portion of Reading's history that draws on themes of gender equality and betrayal of almost mythical proportions will be dramatically revealed to the public.

Matilda the Empress is the story of Henry I's daughter and only child, who ruled as Holy Roman Empress for 11 years before reigning as Lady of the English from 1141 to 1148.

It is also a tale inextricably tied to Reading.

After abseiling from the heights of Oxford castle in the middle of a snow storm, she gifted the fabled hand of St James to her father at Reading Abbey.

Come Thursday Reading Between the Lines, the theatre company behind the much lauded Henry I of England, will return Matilda to the St James Church' beside the ruins of the building.

Playwright Beth Flintoff has painstakingly drawn together the surviving historical threads that tie Matilda to the town, unearthing a powerful example of a ruler shackled by her gender in the process.

"I would say that gender equality is a big theme of the show," explained Toby Davies, director of the company with wife Dani.

"She did things that her dad did and the response was 'that was inappropriate and shouldn't have been done by a woman'.

"Today when only 10 per cent of the planet is ruled by women, it seems particularly relevant."

Dani added: “Matilda’s story is as enthralling as any I’ve seen or read. Her courage and her commitment against such awful gender-forced disloyalty and revolt were truly inspirational.

"But it’s the fact that so much of it connects to where we’re performing the play that I am most excited about.”

As for the historical accuracy of the play, Toby insisted it is as true to life as months researching in Reading Library, the British History Museum and the company of local historians would allow.

He continued: "There are a couple of things where we have made dramatic choices but it is as historically accurate as we can manage.

"All of the history is written by men and men at that time didn't respect women. So how accurate is what has been written?"

Whether or not Reading Between the Lines can recapture the magic of Henry I with Matilda is yet to be seen, but what is not is the company's desire to keep dusting off the town's history and raising its profile.

"We are looking at taking Matilda and Henry out on tour," Toby said.

"We feel like there is such a wealth of interest here in the town and we want to export it while bringing people into Reading.

"We definitely want to do a show in the future about the destruction of the abbey. There is so much history here and it is not what people expect when they think about Reading."

Matilda the Empress runs from November 2 to November 18. Go to www.readingbetweenthelines.co.uk for tickets.