Theatre by the Lake’s Christmas production of The Emperor & the Nightingale by Neil Duffield opens for a seven-week run on November 26.
The play, based on a story by Hans Christian Andersen, tells of a young emperor who goes on a quest for the sweetly singing bird. He is shown the way by a feisty young girl who knows rather more about the world—and more about how to have fun—than he does.
Three of the eight actors have worked at the Keswick venue before. Joel Sams was in Swallows and Amazons three years ago, as was Frances Marshall who also had a successful 2015 summer season with her roles in The 39 Steps, Abigail’s Party and Fallen Angels.
Patrick Bridgman, who lives in Cockermouth, earns a long service medal, having acted both in the theatre’s opening season and many other productions since.