[K]eswick’s Theatre by the Lake is just one week away from opening its Summer Season and has announced that alongside its in-house work, a fantastic variety of newly programmed music, talks, films and drama are now on sale for audiences viewing pleasure. Running from July 2018 to January 2019, there is something to tempt all tastes whether you’re visiting on holiday or a Cumbrian with a craving for quality entertainment. In addition, the theatre is thrilled to announce a new co-production and UK premiere of Sharr White’s brilliant thriller The Other Place from 1 – 10 November.
Music-lovers are spoiled for choice with a superb range of folk, swing, brass, RnB, soul and classical music sprinkled throughout the summer to entertain all ears. Particular highlights include two astoundingly good folk bands. First up is the Urban Folk Quartet on 8 July who are known for their high-energy genre-defying acoustic music sets. UFQ take fiddle-based music, drawing on Celtic dance forms, and entwine them with diverse influences from Afrobeat to north Indian rhythms creating a sound like no other.
They are closely followed on 15 July by the multi-award-winning Scottish band Breabach, back for another visit. The group, who won Folk Band of the Year at the Scots Trad Awards, bring beautiful Gaelic vocals to a notable line-up featuring twin bagpipes as well as fiddle, mandolin, bass and guitar.
Theatre by the Lake is also relishing the welcome return of Ruby Turner to the Main House on 30 September following her unavoidable cancellation earlier this year. Ruby began her stellar musical career back in the 1980s, touring with Culture Club and then launched a successful solo career with soul, jazz and RnB hits such as I’d Rather Go Blind and It’s Gonna Be Alright. To date she’s been featured on 19 albums for the likes of Brian Ferry, UB40 and Jools Holland. This promises to be a night of silky sounds by the legendary soul artist.
Brass and swing enthusiasts will be tempted by The London Swing Orchestra on 29 July who will take you on a musical journey from Ragtime to Sinatra, or on Sun 2 September the Reg Vardy Band return with their traditional brass band concert. These North of England Brass Band Champions have cemented a formidable reputation for their high quality concerts and new original music. Established musical favourites the Keswick Music Society, who will be celebrating their 71st season, are again running a series of classical concerts beginning with Septura Brass Septet on 23 September.
Also thrown into the mix is new film and special fundraising event, Making Noise Quietly on 1 July. A delicate, witty and poetic tryptic of stories about the effects of war, the theatre is thrilled to be hosting this exclusive screening of director Dominic Dromgoole’s film, plus holding a special post-show discussion with him. All proceeds from this screening will be donated to TBTL’s work with young people. The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) are once again taking the audience on an unusual journey with a talk by Wainwright Prize-winner Hugh Thomson in One Man and a Mule on 22 July about his journey hiking in England with his trusty pack mule.
Following this on 16 September is the Ocean Film Festival World Tour, guaranteed to have the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end as you’re exhilarated by the power of the waves, the salt spray and those enchanted by the ocean.
Continuing our supportive relationships between local societies and drama groups, the theatre is proud to stage Keswick Peace and Human Rights Society’s The Vote: 1918 which documents the struggles of women’s suffrage in a four person drama on 19 August. We welcome back the Lakeland Dialect Society with Throo T’ Yat on 7 October with a series of sketches, stories songs an’ tyales, keeping the unique speech of the county alive. It is followed by Stroke Odysseys on 12 October, an ambitious piece of dance theatre performed by stroke survivors and supported by professional dancers, singers and musicians. And if all that wasn’t enough, there is so much more on offer, so be sure to pick up a brochure to check out the rest.
“We’ve thoroughly enjoyed programming this range of visiting work, and as always delight in welcoming new artists, returning companies and hosting local societies and drama groups.” said Conrad Lynch, Artistic Director at Theatre by the Lake. “We work very hard to select a broad range of genres that complement our home-produced Summer Season and I’m particularly excited to welcome back the fabulous Elizabeth Mansfield (recent star of hit spring show Hymn to Love) in October as Marie – the Story of Marie Lloyd, another one of two fundraising shows this season, about the darling of the Victorian Music Hall era. Proceeds from this performance will be donated to Theatre by the Lake’s work with young children.”
And finally, there’s already been a stir at the theatre about the announcement of The Other Place in November. Directed by Claire van Kampen, a celebrated director, composer and playwright in her own right, she is best known for her creative partnership with husband Mark Rylance including their recent collaboration Farinelli and the King, which was nominated for six Olivier Awards and just completed a sell-out run on Broadway garnering another five Tony Award nominations. Running from 1 until 10 November in the Main House, the show is a dazzlingly clever psychological thriller and really shouldn’t be missed by any theatre lover.
Booking has just opened by phone on 017687 74411, online at www.theatrebythelake.com or in person at the Box Office. Full details of the programme can be found in the theatre’s online brochure – https://www.theatrebythelake.com/brochure-downloads/