For this performance at Theatre by The Lake, Keswick on 15 March 2019, actors Michael Cochrane (Oliver Sterling in The Archers) and Robert Portal (My Week with Marilyn film) read letters from the best-selling anthology Dear Lupin. These touching and amusing letters between Roger Mortimer and his son Charlie known as “Lupin” tell of the frustrations and joys of parenthood and childhood.
Roger Mortimer was the Racing Correspondent for The Sunday Times, he wrote these letters over some years to his son Charlie. He nicknamed his son Lupin after the hopeless son of the fictional Victorian comic diarist Mr Pooter in The Diary of a Nobody. The anthology of letters was published in 2012 and became a surprise best-seller. Every parent will have some fellow-feeling for the often-despairing note in them and will delight in the affection and dogged perseverance in Roger’s efforts to galvanise his son into some kind of productive occupation. Often hilarious, always entertaining and sometimes touching, the letters and the comments by Charlie tell us a moving story of a loving, if occasionally spiky, relationship between father and son.
The performance of Dear Lupin is part of Words by the Water – a thought-provoking festival of words and ideas organised by Ways with Words. For 10 days Theatre by The Lake in Keswick is a vibrant hub for authors and speakers discussing a diverse and intriguing range of subjects. Following the festival the show plays one other UK date in this tour: at the Octagon Grassington, Yorkshire.
Michael Cochrane and Robert Portal have a long track record of iconic roles between them on stage and screen. Before reuniting for Dear Lupin they previously played father and son in the Ruth Rendell/Inspector Wexford Mystery Simisola for ITV.
Michael Cochrane comments: “Where could be a more beautiful place to work and play than Keswick, with Derwent Water, Castlerigg and Skiddaw nearby?”
Robert Portal says about performing at Theatre by The Lake: “I’m looking forward to being back in the Lakes. I spent a week on my own up here 20 years ago, walking and climbing and fell in love with it. Can’t wait to be back.”
For more information or to purchase tickets visit: www.theatrebythelake.com/words-by-the-water-festival
Event: Dear Lupin – part of Words on Water festival
Date: 15 March 2019 Time: 6pm
Venue: Theatre by The Lake, Lakeside, Keswick, Cumbria. CA12 5DJ
Tickets: £11 + booking fee 017687 74411