A group who have raised almost £1 million for Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake is winding up after 22 years.
The Friends of Theatre by the Lake handed over final cheque for £11,500 to theatre staff.
The charity was originally set up to support fundraising efforts for a new theatre in Keswick and was instrumental in the building of the cultural venue, playing a key role in securing local support for the venture.
The committee of 12 volunteer trustees have since continued the good work over the past 22 years.
The committee organised social events, luncheon clubs, talks, theatre trips, quizzes, open garden events, and promotional concerts, alongside membership subscriptions to help raise the funds over the years.
In addition, a separate cohort of friends ran the 600 Club, an annual lottery scheme with monthly prizes which in itself contributed £110,000 towards the total.
With the advent of improved technological solutions to ticketing and communications and the benefits of increased efficiencies, The Friends conducted a ballot of their members in 2020 with almost 2,000 members voting to transfer the membership directly to the theatre to continue the good work.
Anne Chambers, chair of Friends of Theatre by the Lake said: “We are delighted and very proud to discover that the charity has raised this sum over the past 22 years.
“It really demonstrates the local and nationwide support for our very special theatre. On behalf of the Friends and the current committee I would like to thank all those individuals who have worked tirelessly to run the charity. The fruits of our labour can be seen in the theatre that our entire community benefits from.”
Liz Stevenson, artistic director of Theatre by the Lake, said: “We are so incredibly grateful to Anne, the committee and all the friends who have come together to support the work of Theatre by the Lake over the years.
“Their extraordinary achievement will continue to be celebrated by us all.”
Theatre by the Lake will continue fundraising efforts having recently launched a new membership scheme.
