Theatre by the Lake has plenty of ways to get into theatre this Autumn, through family-friendly performances, open house activities, and the TBTL Young Company.
Theatre by the Lake is delighted to be participating in Fun Palaces – a UK-wide celebration where community organisations open their doors and host fun activities throughout the day. It’s free and open to all ages.
TBTL’s Fun Palace will be taking place on Sunday 6 October 2019 from 12pm to 4pm and will include activities for all ages led by various groups from the local community. The schedule includes yoga, singing with Keswick Amateur Operatic Society, theatre improvisation and activities from the RSPB. There will also be a sale of costumes which have graced Theatre by the Lake’s stages; the last costume sale in 2017 was a huge success with happy punters taking home some extraordinary items. So if you would like a piece of TBTL history of your own, love amazing and unusual clothes or simply have a fancy dress party coming up that you need an outfit for, head on down.
The following weekend sees the return of The People’s Theatre Company, who are bringing There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly to TBTL’s Main Stage on Sunday 13 October at 3.30pm. This much-loved tale is celebrating its 45th anniversary and to mark the occasion, popular children’s author Steven Lee (How The Koala Learnt To Hug, Don’t Dribble On The Dragon) has turned it into a magical musical show. A feast of fun filled games, colourful animal characters and sing-along songs, it’s the perfect treat for all the family, from ages 2 to 102.
And for those who prefer to be on stage, rather than just watching from the audience, Theatre by the Lake’s Young Company weekly term-time sessions are starting up again soon. Kicking off from 30 September, there are three different classes: Young Sparks (ages 7 to 11), Young Performers (ages 11 to 13) and Young Actors (ages 13 to 18). With opportunities to create original pieces of theatre, work on scripts, develop performance skills, and perform at Theatre by the Lake, it’s a great way for young people to build confidence, have fun, and make friends. Due to high demand, the Young Actors classes are now full but there are still spaces in the Young Sparks and Performers classes.
Successful applicants to the Young Actors will have the added excitement of getting involved with the NT Connections Festival, with opportunities for acting, stage management, technical and assistant directing. Each year, the National Theatre commissions ten new plays for young people to perform; 300 youth companies from every corner of the UK will produce an NT Connections play this year. In 2020, Theatre by the Lake will become a partner theatre, hosting young companies from Cumbria, Lancashire, and the Isle of Man to perform in our studio in front of a public audience.
More information about TBTL’s Young Company can be found at www.theatrebythelake.com/youngcompany. Tickets for There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly can be bought online at www.theatrebythelake.com, or via the Box Office on 017687 74411. For further information regarding the 2019 Fun Palaces day at TBTL, including the day’s schedule, see www.theatrebythelake.com/funpalaces2019.
