Theatre by the Lake in Keswick welcomes back Jimmy Grimes, puppetry director and designer on The Shepherd’s Life, seen earlier this year, to work on upcoming Christmas production, The Emperor and the Nightingale.
His impressive theatrical CV includes three years working on the National Theatre's production of War Horse. Puppets he designed and created for The Shepherd’s Life were a key feature of the much-loved and critically acclaimed production, with Herdwick sheep, two sheepdogs, and one puppy being brought to life by two professional puppeteers and a community chorus.
The Emperor and the Nightingale is written by Neil Duffield and based on a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. It tells the story of Wu, a young Emperor who is kept a virtual prisoner in his palace and his friendship with a young peasant girl who leads him on a life-changing adventure to hear the song of the nightingale.
It is the final show to be directed at the theatre by former artistic director Ian Forrest after 17 years at the helm and having directed nearly 70 productions.
On five Saturdays across the run, the theatre is also offering free make-and-do workshops where children can make their own puppets and Chinese masks.