[W]ith Theatre by the Lake gearing up towards its opening performances at the end of May, and its first four shows in rehearsals, the full Summer Season company met in Keswick for the first time yesterday, with the actors meeting all their fellow cast members with whom they’ll be performing over the next five months.
The four shows now in rehearsals are Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense, Rails, Single Spies and Bold Girls, with the season posing a substantial challenge for the actors who are performing in up to three shows each. The fifth show, Sense and Sensibility, goes into rehearsals in June at which point the actors will be rehearsing during the day, and performing in the other productions in the evenings.
Actor Thomas Richardson, who was last seen at Theatre by the Lake in the 2016 Summer Season, said: “It’s about concentration – but that’s why we rehearse. By the time each play is open we have created the world and the characters in the rehearsal room, so they are all compartmentalised in your head – just like you might think of things in your life differently – like being a parent, a friend and doing your job.”
Theatre by the Lake is one of very few theatres who still operate this ‘repertory’ system of theatre, whereby one company of actors work across several shows.
Artistic Director Conrad Lynch said: “Alongside our location – which obviously we feel no other theatre can quite compete with! – it’s our rep system which makes us really unique. It’s fantastic both for audiences, who enjoy getting to know one company of actors and seeing them perform in a variety of roles, and also lovely for us as a venue to have the same company with us for several months, rather than coming for a few weeks and then moving on.
I also know that actors love spending their summers here in Keswick, especially as they are always welcomed so warmly by the community, and that they really relish the opportunity to work in rep.”
Thomas Richardson echoed this: “Working in a repertory system is so magic. Your skills as an actor are utilised, as well as – more importantly I think – challenged and stretched. You’re working with different directors and actors across the season and the quality of work and production values are so high – plus you get to walk out of the building and be surrounded by the most amazing views.”
The full Summer Season company is made up of ten actors: Karen Ascoe, James Duke, Christine Entwisle, Theo Fraser Steele, Alice Imelda, Sarah Kempton, Oliver Mott, Lydea Perkins, Thomas Richardson and Toby Vaughan.
Season tickets are available for audiences who want to see more than one show – the best deals mean a ticket can cost as little as £16 per show; see www.theatrebythelake.com/theatrepackages for details. Individual tickets are priced from £10 to £36.
The Season opens on 24 May with Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense in the Main House, and Rails in the Studio. You can book online at www.theatrebythelake.com or by calling Box Office on 017687 74411.
