WHILE most people think of January as a dull, miserable month, for me as a theatre reviewer, it is as exciting as Christmas eve. So many announcements of such great drama, dance and music to come.
So where do I start? You may think the county the furthest away from the West End, with only one professional theatre company in residence, could mean a meagre helping of performances. But, you couldn’t be further from the truth.
Most days of the year you can see live theatre somewhere in Cumbria – the wide range of choice from stand up comedy to contemporary dance and everything in between. From purpose-built theatres to sports and village halls, venues are popping up all over the county. And here’s a rundown of what I’m looking forward to reviewing for you in the months to come.
Theatre by the Lake, Keswick
Theatre by the Lake has a female-led programme steaming into town in Keswick next month.
Tannie & Tannie,
The first of the two Studio shows is Tannie & Tannie. The two Tannies (Afrikaans for ‘Aunty’) are the storytellers of the town. Their place in the world, once strong, flat and stable, has become riddled with earthquakes and water that bursts into flame. On Thursday 6 February audiences will join the Tannies as they attempt to finish their packing and prepare to embark on a new life while mourning the loss of the lives and memories they must leave behind. Both poignant and funny, Tannie & Tannie is a new play written by Claudine Bennent, performed by Claudine Bennent and Melanie Crawley, and directed by Sarah Spencer.
Picasso’s Women
Next up in the Studio is Picasso’s Women on Friday 7 February, which comes to the North-West following a critically acclaimed, sell-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and tours of London and the South of England. Originally produced for the National Theatre and BBC Radio 3, Picasso’s Women gives a unique look at the great painter’s early life through the voices of his wives, mistresses and muses: French model Fernande, Russian ballerina Olga and 17-year-old mistress Marie-Thérèse.
Strangers on a Train Set Finally, roaring into TBTL’s Main House on Friday 7 February, is the much-loved LipService Theatre (lauded as ‘The Laurel and Hardy of literary deconstruction’ by The Independent) with Strangers on a Train Set. I had the pleasure of seeing this play at the start of the run at The Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal – here’s my review from this hilarious evening. https://cumbria24.com/strangers-on-a-train-set-brewery-arts-centre-kendal/
Booking is already open at Theatre by the Lake, and audiences can book by phone on 017687 74411, online at www.theatrebythelake.com or in person at the Box Office.
And coming up over the next 12 months at Theatre by the Lake:
Main House
- Malory Towers, a new musical based on the novels by Enid Blyton, adapted and directed by Emma Rice. Theatre by the Lake and David Pugh present a Wise Children production. 27 March – 18 April (followed by tour).
- Boeing Boeing by Marc Camoletti, translated by Beverley Cross. A TBTL production, directed by Nick Bagnall. From 21 May.
- Rope by Patrick Hamilton. A TBTL production, directed by Liz Stevenson. From 4 June.
- The Climbers by Carmen Nasr. A world premiere TBTL production, directed by Guy Jones. From 30 July.
Studio
- One Side Lies the Sea co-created with Jennifer Bell. A world premiere Theatre by the Lake and Pentabus co-production, directed by Sophie Motley. 27 March – 18 April.
- Wilt by Kieran Knowles. A world premiere TBTL production, directed by Liz Stevenson. From 21 May.
- These Walls by Laura Lomas. A world premiere TBTL production, directed by Holly Race Roughan. From 4 June.
- Drown Your Empty Selves by Joseph Wilde. A world premiere TBTL production, directed by Kash Arshad. From 30 July.
Main House Christmas
- The Borrowers by Mary Norton adapted for the stage by Theresa Heskins. A TBTL production. 26 November – 16 January.
Kirkgate Arts Centre – Cockermouth
fell
A new play about being a teenager and growing up on the Lakeland fells begins its tour of Cumbria on Saturday 1 February at Kirkgate Arts Centre.
On the Wire presents: fell by Chris Salt and directed by Janys Chambers
Chris is a member of the Northern Royal Court Writers’ group. fell explores adolescence, physical and emotional resilience and the forging of an unlikely friendship in the shadows of the high fells. Chris says he drew on his own experiences of holidays spent fell-walking and camping with his mates.
The play tells the story of two teenagers, Jake and Lyle, who meet on the edge of a tarn. Over 24 hours and against the backdrop of an unpredictable physical landscape, the lads chip away at each other’s certainties until they are no longer sure of who they really are or what the future holds.
Directed by Janys Chambers, the play is performed by two young northern actors, Tarek Slater (nominated for best actor at ‘Manhattan Short’ film festival for his role as Józef Paczynski in ‘Hope Dies Last’) and Daniel Paul (who appears in the latest Warburton’s bread advert with Robert De Niro).
fell is designed by Jane Linz Roberts, who has designed work in theatres including Birmingham Rep and National Theatre of Wales, who has introduced immersive elements to add to the audience experience.
Young people from the Cumbria Youth Alliance in Workington were involved in the development of the play through workshops which explored the themes of growing up in a rural environment.
fell is supported by Arts Council England, Kirkgate Arts and Linden Learning.
Tour dates:
- 1 February – The Kirkgate Centre, Cockermout 7:30 pm – 8:45 pm Book Tickets
- 3 February – Carnegie Arts Centre, Workington 7:30 pm – 8:45 pm Book tickets online or via the Box Office: 01900 602122
- 11, 12 February – Theatre by the Lake, Keswick 7:30 pm Book tickets online or via the Box Office: 017687 74411 The Box Office is open from 9:30 am until 7:30 pm (or 6 pm on non-performance nights) Monday to Saturday, and from 11 am to 7:30 pm (or 6 pm on non-performance nights) on Sundays.
- 13 February – Theatre Factory, Barrow-in-Furness 7:30 pm – 8:45 pm Book Tickets
- 15 February – Globe Hall, Ireby 7:30 pm – 8:45 pm Book Tickets
- 16 February – Campus Whitehaven 7:30 pm – 8:45 pm Book Tickets
- 19 February – Action Transport Theatre, Ellesmere Port 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm Book tickets online or via the Box Office: 0151 357 2120
- 20 February – The Met, Bury 7:30 pm – 8:45 pm Book tickets online or via the Box Office: 0161 761 2216
Check out cumbria24 for my review on Sunday!
The Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal
Ladies That Bus
A hilarious, heart-warming tale of journeys taken and not taken in this three-woman show which starts its northern at the Brewery Arts Centre on 11 February.
Based on real-life interviews and peppered with humour, songs and original music, Ladies That Bus is a day-in-the-life of the Route 555 bus to Keswick, and the kaleidoscope of different characters that travel on it each with their very own tales to tell.
Developed with theatre by the Lake, Keswick, The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster, and The Brewery, Kendal.
Touring dates:
- Tue 21 January 2020 – 4:30 pm Shap Memorial Hall Main Street, Shap, Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 3NLcancelled
- This performance has been moved to 7 March at Orton Market Hall (see below)
- Telephone 01931 716273
- Thu 5 March 2020 – 7:30 pm Dent Memorial Hall Main Street, Dent, Cumbria, LA10 5QJBook
- Adult – £9, Child – £4.50, Family – £24
- Telephone 0781 5912231
- Fri 6 March 2020 – 7:15 pm Edmundbyers Village Hall Edmundbyers, Consett, County Durham, DH8 9NLBook
- Adult – £9, Child – £4, Concession – £8
- Telephone 01207 255608
- Sat 7 March 2020 – 7:30 pm Orton Market Hall Market Street, Orton, Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 3RLBook
- Adult – £10, child – £5, Family – £25, Concession – £9
- Telephone 015396 24732
- Sun 8 March 2020 – 7:30 pm Soulby Village Hall Hutton Lodge, Soulby, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, CA17 4PLBook
- Adult – £9, Child – £5
- Telephone 017683 71396
Highlights Rural Touring Scheme
Shoo Shoo Baby – The Great Safari Cabaret
I was gutted to miss their Christmas cabaret which ran at The Brewery Arts and Brough Village Hall, so I am delighted to be seeing their new performance at Bolton Memorial Hall 20 March.
I’m expecting water-tight harmonising across a wonderful array of original cabaret songs with music from composers…
- Casterton Village Hall – 18 March
- Lesbury Village Hall – 19 March
- Bolton Memorial Hall – 20 March
- Heads Nook Village Hall – 22 March
Slanjayvah Danze – 6 Feet, 3 Shoes
I’m also looking forward to seeing this dance production at Appleby Hub 3 Apri. Dancing is something the Highlights is bringing more of to their village and town venues.
6 Feet, 3 Shoes is a celebration of friendship across borders, told through feisty, percussive…
- Wetheral Village Community Hall – 1 April
- Allendale Village Hall – 2 April
- Appleby Public Hall – 3 April
- Felton Village Hall – 4 April
- Wark Town Hall & Mechanics Institute – 5 April
Liz Cotton – 100% Cotton
And more comedy in the fells, Liz looks like a great show to see at Dufton Village Hall on 23 April.
Tender, honest and exquisitely naughty – Liz Cotton strums a life’s worth of songs, anxieties, humour…
- Dufton Village Hall – 23 April
- Lazonby Village Hall – 24 April
- Amble Parish Hall – 25 April
- Wark Town Hall & Mechanics Institute – 26 April
Whistle Stop Opera: The Marriage of Figaro
A 45-minute whistle-stop tour of Mozart’s playful opera.
- Appleby HUB – 21 Feb
- Arnside Educational Institute – 22 Feb
Tim Kliphuis Trio to Swing the Classics at Orton and Murton
On the tenth anniversary of his first rural tour with Highlights, award-winning Dutch violinist, Tim Kliphuis returns with his trio to play a couple of concerts inspired by classical music and gypsy jazz with a large dose of swing.
Swinging the Classics brings together the music of Stéphane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt with new swing arrangements of classical pieces by composers such as J. S. Bach, Duke Ellington and Edvard Grieg.
Tim Kliphuis ranks among the world’s finest jazz violinists, and he has often been named the successor to Stéphane Grappelli, taking Grappelli’s legacy into the 21st Century by infusing gypsy swing with folk and classical music.
Playing alongside Tim for his Eden performances are bassist Roy Percy, whose sound is rooted in New Orleans and Jump Jive, and virtuoso guitarist. And Nigel Clark – who has worked with some of the biggest names including Gloria Gaynor, Jan Akkerman and Carol Kidd.
The Tim Kliphuis Trio has partnered with Highlights for a run of dates in the rural north before heading out to Russia to continue their international tour.
- Murton Village Institute – 12 February
- Orton Market Hall – 13 February
- Tarset Village Hall – 14 February
To book call 01768 353642 or online at www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
This is just the tip of the dramatic iceberg of offerings from the Highlights team, check out their full programme online
Bitts Park
Tom Jones – A Celebration on Sunday 26 July
Performances don’t get much bigger than this – the living legend that is Mr Tom Jones live in Carlisle!
Tom 50+ year career has remarkably gone from strength to strength. Along with sustaining his popularity as a live performer and recording artist for five decades, he garnered at the age of 75, the best reviews of his career for his most recent albums Long Lost Suitcase, Spirit In The Room and Praise & Blame.
As he celebrates a landmark 80th birthday this summer, Tom continues to delight fans across the globe. His distinctive voice and iconic records earning him a place as one of the best-loved artists ever to emerge from the 1960s with an eclectic musical mix spanning pop, rock, soul, R&B, dance, country and gospel. With more than 100 million record sales under his belt, hits including It’s Not Unusual, Kiss, Delilah and What’s New Pussycat remain firm favourites with his fans.
Little Mix – Bitts Park, Carlisle Friday 24 July
Pop superstars Little Mix are taking their unmissable live show on the road next year with their 21-date Summer 2020 tour. Another big concert for Cumbria this summer!
This is just a few of the exciting events coming in 2020 to Cumbria – keep up to date with cumbria24 where we’ll share more arts news throughout the year.
