Folk rock legends and musical theatre makers, both hailing from the North East, are set to entertain audiences when they stop off in Keswick this March as part of their national tours.
First up on Tuesday 5 March in the Studio, The Letter Room presents No Miracles Here, a foot-stomping and thought-provoking new musical about overcoming depression through dancing that has had audiences on their feet in appreciation across the UK.
No Miracles Here, described by The Scotsman as ‘a vibrant, lively, imaginative theatrical experience’ is set at a dance marathon in a northern town and stars Ray, a young man with a big night ahead of him. Led by his very own backing band, The Raylettes, he’s going to dance until the end of life, quite literally. Long suffering with depression and suicidal inclinations, Ray joins the dance floor with self-destructive plans, but once the music has started, and he can’t leave, he finds unexpected solace and solidarity in the shared experience.
This acclaimed musical, turning a tough & tricky subject into an ‘uplifting piece of theatre’ (Exeunt Magazine), is brought to TBTL by renown theatre company, The Letter Room. It is an anthem to feeling alive and keeping the faith, packed full of live music and wall-to-wall dancing in a spirit-raising and truly original piece of drama.
No Miracles Here has been created in association with the mental health charity Mind, with support from the Royal Shakespeare Company and Northern Stage. So get your sweatbands ready, tighten your laces and look to the band for a night of inspiration. Tickets are £15, U16s, OAPs & NHS £12. It plays to the Studio on Tuesday 5 March at 7.30pm.
At the end of the month, TBTL present The Lindisfarne Story, an affectionate and enthusiastic celebration of one of the UK’s most original and successful folk rock groups. Written and performed by former front-man Billy Mitchell and founder member Ray Laidlaw, the show takes the audience through fifty years of the Geordie group’s history from its 1960s beginnings in the pubs and clubs of Tyneside to the concert halls and festivals of the present day.
The story, which has been touring the UK since 2015, is told through the groups classic songs, rare and unseen video, audio clips and private photographs linked together with tall tales and scurrilous gossip. From Whitley Bay to ‘Frisco Bay, from Rothbury to Glastonbury, The Lindisfarne Story is a brilliant evening’s entertainment with everything you’d expect from the best bits of Laidlaw’s diary.
Goose pimples will appear with the acoustic performances of such classic songs as Meet Me on the Corner, Lady Eleanor and Fog on the Tyne. So whether you’re a rabid Lindisfarne fan or just a lover of 60s and 70s music and want to hear a blast from the past, make sure you book your tickets soon. Tickets are £20 and the group perform on the main stage on Sunday 31 March at 7.30pm.
To find out more or book tickets, visit www.theatrebythelake.com or call the Box Office on 017687 74411.
