Theatre by the Lake

Theatre by the Lake, Keswick
Map
AddressLakeside
Keswick, Cumbria
England
OwnerCumbria Theatre Trust
CapacityMain House 400; Studio 100 (can vary between performances)
Opened1999
Website
http://www.theatrebythelake.co.uk/

Theatre by the Lake is situated on the shores of Derwentwater in the Lake District in Keswick, Cumbria, England. It opened in 1999, replacing the mobile Century Theatre, and was made possible by an Arts Council Lottery Fund Grant. From May to November a resident company of up to 14 actors perform a Summer Season of six plays in repertory. The theatre also produces a Christmas show and two Spring shows (one in the Main House and one in the Studio).[1] The theatre hosts festivals including the Words by the Water literature festival, the Jennings Keswick Jazz Festival, Keswick Film Festival and events in the Keswick Mountain Festival. In addition, the theatre offers a wide range of visiting drama, music, dance, talks, comedy and film.

History

The mobile touring Century Theatre first visited Keswick in 1961 and settled full-time in the Lakeside car park on the shores of Derwentwater in 1975. Outline planning permission was granted for a permanent building on the site in 1991, and in 1996 the Century Theatre was moved to Snibston Discovery Museum to make way for it. Work on the building began in 1998; the ground was broken by the theatre's patron, Dame Judi Dench. A significant proportion of the £6.5m building cost was contributed by the National Lottery. The name Theatre by the Lake was decided by public consultation and the first performance in the new building was on 19 August 1999.[2]

The theatre has two auditoria: 400 seats in the Main House; and 100 seats in the Studio.[3]

Productions

Year Production Writer Dates Auditorium Notes
1999 Charley's Aunt Brandon Thomas 19 August – 6 November Main House
The Lakers James Plumptre 2 September – 6 November Main House
Two Jim Cartwright 9 September – 6 November Main House
A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens 3 December 1999 – 8 January 2000 Main House Adapted by David Holman.
2000 Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare 31 March – 22 April Main House Presented in the round.
Noises Off Michael Frayn 27 May – 28 October Main House
Dangerous Corner J.B. Priestley 9 June – 27 October Main House
One Fine Day Dennis Lumborg 16 June – 27 October Studio
My Cousin Rachel Daphne du Maurier 21 July – 23 October Main House Adapted by Diana Morgan.
Noël and Gertie Sheridan Morley 28 July – 23 October Studio Included five performances in the Main House.
The Snow Queen Stuart Paterson 1 December 2000 – 6 January 2001 Main House From the story by Hans Christian Andersen
2001 The Mother Bertolt Brecht 16–24 February Main House A co-production with Visiting Moon.
Twelfth Night William Shakespeare 23 March – 14 April Main House
Anorak of Fire Stephen Dinsdale 25 May – 27 October Studio
Habeas Corpus Alan Bennett 26 May – 27 October Main House
The Real Inspector Hound/Black Comedy Tom Stoppard/Peter Shaffer 8 June – 24 October Main House Double bill.
Skylight David Hare 15 June – 24 October Studio
Mrs Warren's Profession George Bernard Shaw 20 July – 26 October Main House
Betrayal Harold Pinter 27 July – 26 October Studio
The Wizard of Oz L. Frank Baum 30 November 2001 – 19 January 2002 Main House 1987 musical adaptation originally performed by the RSC.
2002 One Fine Day Dennis Lumborg 7 February – 1 March Studio
Neville's Island Tim Firth 15 March – 6 April Main House
Hello and Goodbye Athol Fugard 24 May – 26 October Studio
The Good Companions J.B. Priestley 25 May – 26 October Main House Adapted by Bob Eaton and Sayan Kent.
The Woman in Black Susan Hill 7 June – 23 October Main House Adapted by Stephen Mallatratt.
In Flame Charlotte Jones 14 June – 23 October Studio
All My Sons Arthur Miller 19 July – 25 October Main House
Speed-the-Plow David Mamet 26 July – 25 October Studio
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Lewis Carroll 29 November 2002 – 18 January 2003 Main House
Tom Thumb 18 December 2002 – 11 January 2003 Studio A co-production with Collaborators Theatre Company.
2003 A Passionate Woman Kay Mellor 2–26 April Main House A co-production with the Gateway Theatre in Chester.
Season's Greetings Alan Ayckbourn 24 May – 31 October Main House
Wallflowering Peta Murray 24 May – 31 October Studio
Blithe Spirit Noël Coward 6 June – 1 November Main House
Kiss of the Spider Woman Manuel Puig 13 June – 1 November Studio Translated by Allan Baker.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall Anne Brontë 18 July – 29 October Main House Adapted by Lisa Evans.
Not a Game for Boys Simon Block 25 July – 29 October Studio
Sleeping Beauty 5 December 2003 – 17 January 2004 Main House Retold for the stage by Charles Way.
2004 The Hired Man Melvyn Bragg 27 March – 17 April Main House Music and lyrics by Howard Goodall.
Sailor, Beware! Philip King and Falkland Cary 29 May – 5 November Main House
Blue/Orange Joe Penhall 29 May – 5 November Studio
Arms and the Man George Bernard Shaw 11 June – 6 November Main House
Ghosts Henrik Ibsen 18 June – 6 November Studio
Strangers on a Train Patricia Highsmith 23 July – 3 November Main House Adapted by Craig Warner.
Tramping Like Mad Julie McKiernan 30 July – 3 November Studio
Cinderella Stuart Paterson 3 December 2004 – 15 January 2005 Main House A reworking of the classic story.
2005 Closer Patrick Marber 23–26 February Studio
April in Paris John Godber 18 March – 9 April Main House
Dick Barton: Special Agent Phil Willmott 28 May – 4 November Main House
Playhouse Creatures April De Angelis 28 May – 4 November Studio
Gaslight Patrick Hamilton 10 June – 5 November Main House
Dead Funny Terry Johnson 17 June – 5 November Studio
Les Liaisons Dangereuses Christopher Hampton 22 July – 2 November Main House
A Number Caryl Churchill 29 July – 2 November Studio
Only Available in Carlisle Charlotte Allan 22–26 November Studio
The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame 3 December 2005 – 21 January 2006 Main House
2006 On Golden Pond Ernest Thompson 31 March – 22 April Main House
Private Lives Noël Coward 27 May – 3 November Main House
The Birthday Party Harold Pinter 27 May – 3 November Studio
Loot Joe Orton 9 June – 4 November Main House
Frozen Bryony Lavery 16 June – 4 November Studio
The Deep Blue Sea Terence Rattigan 21 July – 1 November Main House
After Miss Julie Patrick Marber 28 July – 1 November Studio
Sinbad: the Untold Tale! Charles Way 1 December 2006 – 13 January 2007 Main House A reworking of the Arabian Nights tale.
2007 Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck 24 March – 21 April Main House
Around the World in Eighty Days Jules Verne 26 May – 2 November Main House Freely adapted and with original songs by Phil Willmott.
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Edward Albee 26 May – 2 November Studio
Taking Steps Alan Ayckbourn 8 June – 3 November Main House
Under the Blue Sky David Eldridge 15 June – 3 November Studio
Rebecca Daphne du Maurier 20 July – 31 October Main House Adapted by Frank McGuinness.
Days of Wine and Roses J.P. Miller 27 July – 31 October Studio In a new version by Owen McCafferty.
The Borrowers Mary Norton 1 December 2007 – 12 January 2008 Main House Adapted by Charles Way.
2008 The Recruiting Officer George Farquhar 9 February – 5 April Main House
Our Country's Good Timberlake Wertenbaker 15 March – 5 April Main House
Arsenic and Old Lace Joseph Kesselring 24 May – 5 November Main House
The Bogus Woman Kay Adshead 24 May – 5 November Studio
The Lady in the Van Alan Bennett 6 June – 7 November Main House
The Lonesome West Martin McDonagh 13 June – 7 November Studio
The Importance of Being Earnest Oscar Wilde 18 July – 8 November Main House
The Caretaker Harold Pinter 25 July – 8 November Studio
A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens 29 November 2008 – 17 January 2009 Main House Adapted by David Holman.
2009 The Maid of Buttermere Melvyn Bragg 21 March – 18 April Main House Adapted by Lisa Evans.
A Chorus of Disapproval Alan Ayckbourn 23 May – 4 November Main House
Blackbird David Harrower 23 May – 4 November Studio
Summer Lightning P.G. Wodehouse 5 June – 6 November Main House Adapted by Giles Havergal.
The Memory of Water Shelagh Stephenson 12 June – 6 November Studio
A Midsummer Night's Dream William Shakespeare 17 July – 7 November Main House
For All Time Rick Thomas 24 July – 7 November Studio
Grimm Tales Carol Ann Duffy 28 November 2009 – 9 January 2010 Main House The Box Office takings from one performance were donated to victims of the 2009 floods in Keswick and Cockermouth.
2010 Stones in His Pockets Marie Jones 27 March – 17 April Main House
Northanger Abbey Jane Austen 29 May – 5 November Main House Adapted by Tim Luscombe.
Shining City Conor McPherson 29 May – 5 November Studio
What The Butler Saw Joe Orton 11 June – 6 November Main House
Silence Moira Buffini 18 June – 6 November Studio
Bus Stop William Inge 23 July – 3 November Main House
The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams 30 July – 3 November Studio
Tom's Midnight Garden Philippa Pearce 27 November 2010 – 5 January 2011 Main House Adapted by David Williams.
2011 Quicksand Zosia Wand 16–26 February Studio Premièred at the Dukes, Lancaster.
A View from the Bridge Arthur Miller 1–23 April Main House
Noises Off Michael Frayn 28 May – 9 November Main House
The Blue Room David Hare 28 May – 9 November Studio Adapted from Arthur Schnitzler's La Ronde.
Hay Fever Noël Coward 10 June – 7 November Main House
Dumb Show Joe Penhall 17 June – 7 November Studio
Keep Smiling Through Lisa Evans 30 July – 11 November Main House World première.
Someone Who'll Watch Over Me Frank McGuinness 5 August – 11 November Studio
The Firework-Maker's Daughter Philip Pullman 26 November 2011 – 7 January 2012 Main House Adapted by Stephen Russell.
2012 The History Boys Alan Bennett 24 March – 21 April Main House
Bedroom Farce Alan Ayckbourn 22 May – 7 November Main House
A Doll's House Henrik Ibsen 22 May – 7 November Studio A new adaptation by Bryony Lavery.
Dry Rot John Chapman 1 June – 9 November Main House
Colder Than Here Laura Wade 8 June – 9 November Studio Regional première.
Great Expectations Charles Dickens 20 July – 10 November Main House Adapted for the stage by Neil Bartlett. In association with Cumbria Life.
Roma and the Flannelettes: A Love Like Yours Richard Cameron 27 July – 10 November Studio World première.
The Railway Children Edith Nesbit 1 December 2012 – 19 January 2013 Main House Adapted by Mike Kenny.
2013 Old Herbaceous Reginald Arkell 14 – 23 March Studio Dramatised by Alfred Shaughnessy.
Rogue Herries Hugh Walpole 23 March – 20 April Main House Adapted by Louise Page.
See How They Run Philip King 25 May – 9 November Main House
Vincent in Brixton Nicholas Wright 25 May – 9 November Studio
An Inspector Calls J.B. Priestley 7 June – 6 November Main House
'Tis Pity She's a Whore John Ford 14 June – 6 November Studio
She Stoops to Conquer Oliver Goldsmith 26 July – 8 November Main House
The Shape of Things Neil LaBute 2 August – 8 November Studio
Swallows & Amazons Arthur Ransome 30 November 2013 – 18 January 2014 Main House Adapted by Helen Edmundson, with songs by Neil Hannon. This adaptation was first performed by the Bristol Old Vic in 2010.
2014 Not About Heroes Stephen MacDonald 22 March – 5 April Studio
Dancing at Lughnasa Brian Friel 23 March – 20 April Main House
Rookery Nook Ben Travers 24 May – 5 November Main House
The Winterling Jez Butterworth 24 May – 5 November Studio
Dracula Liz Lochhead 7 June – 7 November Main House Adapted from Bram Stoker's novel.
Seeing the Lights Brendan Murray 13 June – 7 November Studio The world première.
The Comedy of Errors William Shakespeare 26 July – 8 November Main House
Old Times Harold Pinter 1 August – 8 November Studio
Peter Pan J.M. Barrie 29 November 2014 – 31 January 2015 Main House
2015 Two Jim Cartwright 20 March – 14 April Studio
The 39 Steps John Buchan and Alfred Hitchcock 23 May – 4 November Main House Adapted by Patrick Barlow from an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon.
Suddenly Last Summer Tennessee Williams 23 May – 4 November Studio
Abigail's Party Mike Leigh 6 June – 6 November Main House
The Lady of the Lake Benjamin Askew 13 June – 6 November Studio The world première.
Fallen Angels Noël Coward 25 July – 7 November Main House
Enlightenment Shelagh Stephenson 1 August – 7 November Studio The regional première.
The Snow Queen Hans Christian Andersen 28 November 2015 – 16 January 2016 Main House Adapted by Charles Way.
The Bogus Woman Kay Adshead 19–28 November Studio A Curtis Productions & Theatre by the Lake co-production in association with Mama Quilla Productions.
Bear & Butterfly Annie McCourt 15–24 December Studio A Theatre Hullabaloo and Theatre by the Lake co-production based on an original story by Gordon Poad.
2016 The Shepherd's Life James Rebank, adapted by Chris Monks Sat 26 March - Sat 23 April Main House A Theatre by the Lake production
The Professor of Adventure Peter MacQueen Sat 19 March - Tue 5 April Studio A PMac and Theatre by the Lake production
Watch it, Sailor! Philip King and Falkland L. Cary Sat 28 May - Sat 5 November Main House A Theatre by the Lake production
The Vertical Hour David Hare Sat 28 May - Sat 5 November Studio A Theatre by the Lake production
Dial M for Murder Frederick Knott Sat 11 June - Wed 2 November Main House A Theatre by the Lake production
Elektra Sophokles, translated by Anne Carson Sat 18 June - Wed 2 November Studio A Theatre by the Lake production
The Rivals Richard Brinsley Sheridan Sat 30 July - Fri 4 November Main House A Theatre by the Lake production
Iron Rona Munro Sat 6 August - Fri 4 November Studio A Theatre by the Lake production
The Emperor and the Nightingale Neil Duffield, based on The Nightingale by Hans Christian Andersen Sat 26 November - Sat 14 January Main House A Theatre by the Lake production
2017 Two Way Mirror Arthur Miller Fri 17 - Sat 25 March & Mon 10 - Sat 22 April Studio A Theatre by the Lake production
William Wordsworth Nicholas Perpan Fri 31 March - Sat 22 April Main House A Theatre by the Lake and English Touring Theatre co-production
After the Dance Terence Rattigan Thu 25 May - Sat 4 November Main House A Theatre by the Lake production
Handbagged Moira Buffini Thu 15 June - Fri 3 November Main House A Theatre by the Lake production
As You Like It William Shakespeare Fri 7 July - Sat 4 November Main House A Theatre by the Lake and Shared Experience co-production
How My Light is Spent Alan Harris Wed 31 May - Sat 24 June Studio A Theatre by the Lake, The Royal Exchange Theatre, and Sherman Theatre co-production
Miss Julie August Strindberg, a new adaption by Howard Brenton Fri 30 June - Fri 30 November Studio A Theatre by the Lake and Jermyn Street Theatre co-production
Remarkable Invisible Laura Eason Fri 11 August - Sat 4 November Studio A Theatre by the Lake production
The Secret Garden Frances Hodgson Burnett, adapted by Jessica Swale Fri 24 November 2017 - Sat 13 January 2018 Main House A Theatre by the Lake production
2018 A Streetcar Named Desire Tennessee Williams Tue 3 - Sat 7 April Main House An English Touring Theatre, Nuffield Southampton Theatres and THeatr Clwyd production
Great Expectations Charles Dickens, adapted by Ken Brantley Tue 10 - Sat 14 April Main House A Tilted Wig and Malvern Theatres Production
Hymn to Love - Homage to Piaf Steve Trafford Fri 23 March - Tue 10 April Studio A Theatre by the Lake and York Theatre Royal production, in association with Ensemble
Jeeves and Wooster in perfect nonsense P.G. Wodehouse by The Goodale Brothers Thu 24 May - Sat 27 October Main House A Theatre by the Lake production
Single Spies Alan Bennett Thu 14 June - Wed 24 October Main House A Theatre by the Lake production
Sense and Sensibility Jane Austen, adapted by Jessica Swale Thu 9 August - Fri 26 October Main House A Theatre by the Lake production
Rails Simon Longman Thu 24 May - Sat 27 October Studio A Theatre by the Lake production
Bold Girls Rona Munro Thu 21 June - Wed 24 October Studio A Theatre by the Lake production
The Other Place Sharr White Thu 1 - Sat 10 November Main House A Theatre by the Lake and Park Theatre co-production in association with Abinger Productions
Beauty and the Beast Laurence Boswell Fri 23 November - Sat 12 January Main House A Theatre by the Lake production
2019 The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde, adapted by Sean Aydon Mon 8 - Sat 13 April Main House A Tilted Wig, Malvern Theatres and Churchill Theatre production
Educating Rita Willy Russell Thu 18 - Sat 27 April Main House A Theatre by the Lake and David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers co-production
Creditors August Strindberg, a new version by Howard Brenton Fri 22 March - Sat 20 April Studio A Theatre by the Lake and Jermyn Street Theatre co-production
The Ladykillers Grahamn Linehan Fri 24 May - Wed 30 October Main House A Theatre by the Lake production
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice Jim Cartwright Thu 6 June - Fri 1 November Main House A Theatre by the Lake production
Dear Uncle Chekhov, adapted by Alan Ayckbourn Thu 1 August - Sat 2 November Main House A Theatre by the Lake production
My Mother Said I Never Should Charlotte Keatley Thu 23 May - Wed 30 October Studio A Theatre by the Lake production
The Children Lucy Kirkwood Thu 6 June - Fri 1 November Studio A Theatre by the Lake production
Guards at the Taj Rajiv Joseph Thu 8 August - Sat 2 November Studio A Theatre by the Lake production
A Christmas Carol By Patrick Barlow, adapted from the story by Charles Dickens Fri 22 November - Sat 11 January Main House A Theatre by the Lake production

[4]

References

  1. ^ "Theatre by the Lake: About Us". 13 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  2. ^ "Theatre by the Lake: Historical Timeline". 13 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  3. ^ "Auditorium Hire, Keswick, Cumbria | Theatre Hire Keswick". 14 December 2017. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ "NW Theatre Info: Theatre by the Lake". 13 February 2013. Archived from the original on 10 April 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
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