Theatre by the Lake
Theatre by the Lake... Theatre made with passion in an extraordinary place
Set on the shores of Derwentwater in the heart of the Lake District, Theatre by the Lake is Cumbria’s leading producing theatre, creating and presenting ambitious work locally and in collaboration with partners on a national scale.
Each year the theatre produces a wide-ranging programme of classic, modern and new plays across its two stages, alongside visiting performances, festivals and special events celebrating literature, music, film and the outdoors. With its spectacular lakeside setting, it offers one of the most unique theatre-going experiences in the UK.
Since opening in 1999 and willed into existence by the local community and opened by Dame Judi Dench, the theatre has become a creative hub for Cumbria. Today it continues to support artists, young people and communities across the region while welcoming thousands of visitors and audiences each year.
Visitors can enjoy daytime and evening refreshments in the café, with options ranging from light snacks to pre-theatre meals, all overlooking Derwentwater.
The building is fully accessible, with lifts to all levels and wheelchair access to front-of-house areas. Both auditoria are equipped with enhanced hearing and induction loop systems.
Tickets can be booked online at www.theatrebythelake.com, where you can select your seat and view the stage before purchasing. Alternatively, contact the Box Office on 017687 74411, open daily from 10am–6pm.
Location
The theatre is a five minute walk from the town centre (follow signs for the Lake), with Allerdale Borough Council’s Lakeside pay & display car park immediately adjacent to the theatre building. There are bus links with Ambleside to the south, Carlisle to the north, Penrith to the east and Cockermouth and Workington to the west.
By A Lady: The Life & Wit of Jane Austen
Starring Rachel Parris and Doon Mackichan
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen was one of the wittiest observers of human relationships, and female friendships, who ever put pen to parchment. By A Lady tells Jane Austen’s life story from her own writing, woven with favourite moments from the immortal characters she created, including Elizabeth and Jane, Emma and Harriet, the Dashwood sisters, Mrs Bennet, and (hold on to your bonnets) Lady Catherine de Bourgh – not forgetting Mr Bennet, Darcy, Captain Wentworth, Mr Collins, and many more.
Set against a sparkling musical backdrop that surprises as much as it delights, we invite you to loosen your stays, and enjoy this celebration of Austen’s wit, sharpness, and sheer delight in the foibles of human behaviour.
By A Lady is (delightfully) performed by Rachel Parris – Austentatious, Live at the Apollo, The Mash Report, and author of Introducing Mrs Collins and Doon Mackichan – Smack the Pony, Toast of London, Plebs, National Theatre’s Summerfolk. Jane Austen’s words are (respectfully) penned by Deirdre Shields. Music (mischievously) arranged by David Le Page (Violin), and Nick Stringfellow (Cello). By A Lady is (graciously) directed by Judy Reaves.
Nell Gwynn
London, 1660. The theatres are alive, the monarchy’s restored, and women are finally allowed on stage. One woman is about to take it by storm.
Orange-seller, wit, trailblazer, Nell Gwynn is a woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. From the chaotic pit of Drury Lane to the polished halls of Charles II’s court, Nell’s rise to fame as one of Britain’s first actresses is equal parts hilarious and defiant. She can dance, she can sing, she can hurl a one-liner sharper than any sword and yes, she might just steal the King’s heart along the way.
Packed with mischief, music and plenty of flair, Nell Gwynn is a riotous celebration of performance and women who won’t behave. With a fierce female-led ensemble at its heart, this rollicking comedy dances to its own beat and keeps the gents on their toes.
Join us at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, Cumbria, for a night of song, satire, and stage-crashing brilliance in this gloriously funny, feminist comedy that asks: why play by the rules when you can write your own?
This production is part of the Made by TBTL programme, celebrating theatre created and co-produced by Theatre by the Lake in Keswick. Explore more Lake District theatre this season with the literary classic Lark Rise to Candleford, the beloved comedy Calendar Girls – the musical, and the festive favourite A Christmas Carol.
Calendar Girls the musical
When tragedy strikes, courage blossoms.
The death of a much-loved husband prompts a group of ordinary women in a small Yorkshire Women’s Institute to do something extraordinary: create a nude calendar to raise money for charity.
News spreads fast in their community and none of them expect the emotional and personal repercussions, but gradually the making of the fabulous and funny calendar brings each woman unexpectedly into bloom.
The true story of the Calendar Girls launched a global phenomenon, a million copycat calendars, a record-breaking movie, a West End play and now an awarding-winning musical written by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth.
At Theatre by the Lake in Keswick and packed full of unforgettable songs, every performance continues to prove that there is no such thing as an ordinary woman.
This production is part of the Made by TBTL programme, celebrating theatre created and co-produced by Theatre by the Lake in Keswick. Looking for more things to do in Keswick? Don’t miss our witty Restoration comedy Nell Gwynn and the festive classic A Christmas Carol.
Every Brilliant Thing
You’re seven years old. Mum’s in hospital. She finds it hard to be happy.
So you start to make a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. Everything worth living for.
- Ice cream
- Water fights
- Staying up past your bedtime and being allowed to watch TV
And as you grow, so does the list…
Every Brilliant Thing is an honest, uplifting and very funny play about mental health, resilience and the lengths we’ll go to for those we love. Told by a single performer with help from the audience, it creates a unique, shared theatrical experience.
Following a successful run and tour in 2023, Every Brilliant Thing returns to our studio before visiting community spaces across Cumbria.
The Farmer’s Wife
Welcome to the farm.
In The Farmer’s Wife, one day holds a lifetime. Three generations of women from the same family – a daughter, a mother and a grandmother – share a kitchen, their stories overlapping as the past and present sit side by side.
The animals need feeding. The bills need paying. The forms need filling in. The meals need cooking. The vet needs calling. The list never ends.
At the centre of it all is one woman, holding everything together and beginning to wonder how much longer she can.
Inspired by Helen Rebanks’ Sunday Times best-selling memoir and shaped by the voices of women in farming across Cumbria, this new play captures both the beauty and the weight of a life rooted in the land.
By turns honest, moving and surprising, The Farmer’s Wife is a story of resilience and community in a changing world.
_________________________________________________
Fans of thoughtful and emotionally rich productions such as Lark Rise to Candleford and Nell Gwynn will find much to connect with in The Farmer’s Wife, inspired by Helen Rebanks’ acclaimed memoir.
The play brings a deeply personal and authentic rural story to the stage, exploring the unseen emotional labour, strength and endurance behind farming life in Cumbria and beyond.
Christmas Carol
This Christmas, prepare for a festive tale with a ghostly twist.
It’s midnight on Christmas Eve, join us for a haunted Carol service as a spooky choir and the spirits of Christmas race to save the soul of Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge is a hard-nosed Victorian businessman from Keswick who has made his fortune in the big city, but is without a song in his heart. Scrooge hates Christmas and everything about it, but things are about to change when his business partner Jacob Marley returns from the grave…
Charles Dickens’ beloved story A Christmas Carol returns to the stage at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, bringing festive magic to audiences in the Lake District.
Told in Theatre by the Lake’s signature magical Christmas style, and brought to you by Goblin, the makers of our acclaimed 2023 co-production The Lost Spells, this vibrant new adaptation is great fun for all the family with original songs and music performed live by a cast of talented actor-musicians.
Your enquiry will be sent directly to Theatre by the Lake. Please fill in as much detail as you can.
Theatre by the Lake... Theatre made with passion in an extraordinary place
Set on the shores of Derwentwater in the heart of the Lake District, Theatre by the Lake is Cumbria’s leading producing theatre, creating and presenting ambitious work locally and in collaboration with partners on a national scale.
Each year the theatre produces a wide-ranging programme of classic, modern and new plays across its two stages, alongside visiting performances, festivals and special events celebrating literature, music, film and the outdoors. With its spectacular lakeside setting, it offers one of the most unique theatre-going experiences in the UK.
Since opening in 1999 and willed into existence by the local community and opened by Dame Judi Dench, the theatre has become a creative hub for Cumbria. Today it continues to support artists, young people and communities across the region while welcoming thousands of visitors and audiences each year.
Visitors can enjoy daytime and evening refreshments in the café, with options ranging from light snacks to pre-theatre meals, all overlooking Derwentwater.
The building is fully accessible, with lifts to all levels and wheelchair access to front-of-house areas. Both auditoria are equipped with enhanced hearing and induction loop systems.
Tickets can be booked online at www.theatrebythelake.com, where you can select your seat and view the stage before purchasing. Alternatively, contact the Box Office on 017687 74411, open daily from 10am–6pm.
Location
The theatre is a five minute walk from the town centre (follow signs for the Lake), with Allerdale Borough Council’s Lakeside pay & display car park immediately adjacent to the theatre building. There are bus links with Ambleside to the south, Carlisle to the north, Penrith to the east and Cockermouth and Workington to the west.
By A Lady: The Life & Wit of Jane Austen
Starring Rachel Parris and Doon Mackichan
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen was one of the wittiest observers of human relationships, and female friendships, who ever put pen to parchment. By A Lady tells Jane Austen’s life story from her own writing, woven with favourite moments from the immortal characters she created, including Elizabeth and Jane, Emma and Harriet, the Dashwood sisters, Mrs Bennet, and (hold on to your bonnets) Lady Catherine de Bourgh – not forgetting Mr Bennet, Darcy, Captain Wentworth, Mr Collins, and many more.
Set against a sparkling musical backdrop that surprises as much as it delights, we invite you to loosen your stays, and enjoy this celebration of Austen’s wit, sharpness, and sheer delight in the foibles of human behaviour.
By A Lady is (delightfully) performed by Rachel Parris – Austentatious, Live at the Apollo, The Mash Report, and author of Introducing Mrs Collins and Doon Mackichan – Smack the Pony, Toast of London, Plebs, National Theatre’s Summerfolk. Jane Austen’s words are (respectfully) penned by Deirdre Shields. Music (mischievously) arranged by David Le Page (Violin), and Nick Stringfellow (Cello). By A Lady is (graciously) directed by Judy Reaves.
Nell Gwynn
London, 1660. The theatres are alive, the monarchy’s restored, and women are finally allowed on stage. One woman is about to take it by storm.
Orange-seller, wit, trailblazer, Nell Gwynn is a woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. From the chaotic pit of Drury Lane to the polished halls of Charles II’s court, Nell’s rise to fame as one of Britain’s first actresses is equal parts hilarious and defiant. She can dance, she can sing, she can hurl a one-liner sharper than any sword and yes, she might just steal the King’s heart along the way.
Packed with mischief, music and plenty of flair, Nell Gwynn is a riotous celebration of performance and women who won’t behave. With a fierce female-led ensemble at its heart, this rollicking comedy dances to its own beat and keeps the gents on their toes.
Join us at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, Cumbria, for a night of song, satire, and stage-crashing brilliance in this gloriously funny, feminist comedy that asks: why play by the rules when you can write your own?
This production is part of the Made by TBTL programme, celebrating theatre created and co-produced by Theatre by the Lake in Keswick. Explore more Lake District theatre this season with the literary classic Lark Rise to Candleford, the beloved comedy Calendar Girls – the musical, and the festive favourite A Christmas Carol.
Calendar Girls the musical
When tragedy strikes, courage blossoms.
The death of a much-loved husband prompts a group of ordinary women in a small Yorkshire Women’s Institute to do something extraordinary: create a nude calendar to raise money for charity.
News spreads fast in their community and none of them expect the emotional and personal repercussions, but gradually the making of the fabulous and funny calendar brings each woman unexpectedly into bloom.
The true story of the Calendar Girls launched a global phenomenon, a million copycat calendars, a record-breaking movie, a West End play and now an awarding-winning musical written by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth.
At Theatre by the Lake in Keswick and packed full of unforgettable songs, every performance continues to prove that there is no such thing as an ordinary woman.
This production is part of the Made by TBTL programme, celebrating theatre created and co-produced by Theatre by the Lake in Keswick. Looking for more things to do in Keswick? Don’t miss our witty Restoration comedy Nell Gwynn and the festive classic A Christmas Carol.
Every Brilliant Thing
You’re seven years old. Mum’s in hospital. She finds it hard to be happy.
So you start to make a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. Everything worth living for.
- Ice cream
- Water fights
- Staying up past your bedtime and being allowed to watch TV
And as you grow, so does the list…
Every Brilliant Thing is an honest, uplifting and very funny play about mental health, resilience and the lengths we’ll go to for those we love. Told by a single performer with help from the audience, it creates a unique, shared theatrical experience.
Following a successful run and tour in 2023, Every Brilliant Thing returns to our studio before visiting community spaces across Cumbria.
The Farmer’s Wife
Welcome to the farm.
In The Farmer’s Wife, one day holds a lifetime. Three generations of women from the same family – a daughter, a mother and a grandmother – share a kitchen, their stories overlapping as the past and present sit side by side.
The animals need feeding. The bills need paying. The forms need filling in. The meals need cooking. The vet needs calling. The list never ends.
At the centre of it all is one woman, holding everything together and beginning to wonder how much longer she can.
Inspired by Helen Rebanks’ Sunday Times best-selling memoir and shaped by the voices of women in farming across Cumbria, this new play captures both the beauty and the weight of a life rooted in the land.
By turns honest, moving and surprising, The Farmer’s Wife is a story of resilience and community in a changing world.
_________________________________________________
Fans of thoughtful and emotionally rich productions such as Lark Rise to Candleford and Nell Gwynn will find much to connect with in The Farmer’s Wife, inspired by Helen Rebanks’ acclaimed memoir.
The play brings a deeply personal and authentic rural story to the stage, exploring the unseen emotional labour, strength and endurance behind farming life in Cumbria and beyond.
Christmas Carol
This Christmas, prepare for a festive tale with a ghostly twist.
It’s midnight on Christmas Eve, join us for a haunted Carol service as a spooky choir and the spirits of Christmas race to save the soul of Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge is a hard-nosed Victorian businessman from Keswick who has made his fortune in the big city, but is without a song in his heart. Scrooge hates Christmas and everything about it, but things are about to change when his business partner Jacob Marley returns from the grave…
Charles Dickens’ beloved story A Christmas Carol returns to the stage at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, bringing festive magic to audiences in the Lake District.
Told in Theatre by the Lake’s signature magical Christmas style, and brought to you by Goblin, the makers of our acclaimed 2023 co-production The Lost Spells, this vibrant new adaptation is great fun for all the family with original songs and music performed live by a cast of talented actor-musicians.
Your enquiry will be sent directly to Theatre by the Lake. Please fill in as much detail as you can.