Half term fun for all the family at Theatre by the Lake

Reported by Karen Morley 23/01/2012

This half term Theatre by the Lake has enough entertainment planned to keep mum, dad and the kids from getting bored.

For the adults there’s contemporary humour blended with a 1940s setting in The Fitzrovia Radio Hour, cookery and comedy with Hardeep Singh Kohli, family fun with Scotty & Lulu’s Kiddy Keep Fit and Vampirates – the perfect show for anyone who enjoyed ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and to round it all off is Sing-a-long-a-Grease – where the whole family can join in singing, dancing and dressing up.  Whatever your age or interests, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this half term.

The Fitzrovia Radio Hour returns to Theatre by the Lake on Monday 13 February with a 7.30pm performance of their brand new show. Performing with cut-glass theatricality, blending homage and satire, Fitzrovia recreates the unique spirit of the 1940s radio play and brilliantly evokes the age of casual imperialism and stiff upper lips. Mixing the chauvinist attitudes of the 1940s with sharp contemporary humour, Fitzrovia produce a heady comic cocktail guaranteed to entertain audiences. Unlikely props are used to create hilarious sound effects, such as a Bakelite hairdryer imitating a heating torch, a desk fan becoming an aeroplane and cabbages used in a fight scene. Tickets cost £15 - £9.

Having debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2009 where his show played to sell-out audiences, celebrated broadcaster, raconteur, writer and cook Hardeep Singh Kohli brings his show, The Nearly Naked Chef, to Theatre by the Lake. With his wonderfully funny, laid back show filled with cookery and anecdotes, this will be a fantastic evening of relaxed entertainment. Think Ready Steady Cook but with great cooking and hilarious stories, all delivered with Hardeep’s own unique, articulate and utterly charming way. So grab a seat and tuck in on Thursday 16 February at 7.30pm as the Glaswegian serves you up a visual treat. Tickets are priced between £15 -

£9.

Get ready to dance, sing and have a whole lot of fun with award-winning children’s musicians and entertainers Scotty and Lulu in an interactive musical delight for cool kids and groovy grown-ups. Scotty and Lulu’s Kiddy Keep Fit features songs, kiddy friendly yoga, games and lots of silly slapstick sketches and activities. The whole audience will be on their feet in a whirl of dance, laughter and song on Tuesday 14 February at 2pm. Tickets for this family friendly show cost £25 - £6.

If you loved the Pirates of the Caribbean films, then you’ve love Vampirates. Based on the award-winning novels by Justin Stomper, get ready for an engaging and mysterious adventure, suitable for anyone aged 9 and above.  It tells the story of twins Grace and Connor Tempest, who are evicted from their lighthouse home and separated by a vicious storm destroying their boat and leaving them fighting for their lives in the freezing sea. Rescued by a notorious pirate ship, Connor finds new friends and a new life, while Grace finds herself on board a more mysterious ship whose crew she sees only at night. Can the twins survive life on board and find their way back to each other?  Don’t miss this perfect swashbuckling half term treat on Wednesday 15 February at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £14 - £8.

Finally, for an evening of fun that is sure to get you singing and dancing along, look no further than Theatre by the Lake. From the producers of Sing-a-long-a Sound of Music comes the concert event of the year, as the theatre screens a classic film musical on Friday 17 February at 7.30pm in glorious full-screen Technicolor with accompanying on-screen lyrics. Sing-a-long-a Grease will give you the chance to don those pink jackets, grease up those quiffs and let your inhibitions go. The evening begins with your Sing-a-long-a Grease host leading a vocal warm-up before they show you how to use your free goody bag during the film and suggest some appropriate heckles and accompanying actions. Fancy dress is strongly recommended and audience participation is essential. Tickets are selling fast and are priced at £16 - £13.50 so get yours today!

To book tickets for any of these great events call Box Office on 017687 74411 or book online at www.theatrebythelake.com There’s a lot of fun to be had at Theatre by the Lake this half term, make sure you don’t miss out.