Keswick theatre looking for your favourites

Published: 26 July 2014
Reporter: David Upton

Theatre by the Lake's 2012 production of The History Boys by Alan Bennett, which topped the English Touring Theatre poll
Theatre by the Lake's 2011 production of Noises Off by Michael Frayn, which came second in the English Touring Theatre poll

Theatre by the Lake in Keswick is celebrating its 15th birthday by asking the people of Cumbria and beyond to name their favourite plays of all time.

Since opening in 1999, the theatre has staged 127 of its own productions in the main house and studio, a tally that makes it one of the most productive in the country.

Artistic director Ian Forrest is spending the run-up to next year’s anniversary deciding which six plays to include in the 2015 summer season.

This involves deciding which play is suitable for which auditorium and juggling with numbers and the gender of the company of actors who spend seven months in Keswick each summer.

“We are never short of ideas about the productions we want to present but we thought it would be a good idea to ask theatregoers to tell us about the plays they love most,” said Forrest.

“We’re not looking for a list of favourites seen in Keswick, but rather any plays that have made a big impression on our audience members or that they might like to see on our stage.”

In 2000, the National Theatre ran a poll to find the best 100 plays of the 20th century.

Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot topped the list, with Butley by Simon Gray in 100th place. In between came almost 20 plays already performed at Theatre by the Lake.

Last year, English Touring Theatre ran a poll to find the UK's favourite play and out of that emerged a top ten, five of which have been performed at Theatre by the Lake, including Michael Frayn’s Noises Off—which has been staged twice in Keswick.

Theatregoers are free to nominate as many plays as they wish. E-mail [email protected] including “favourite plays” in the subject line, or write to: Tess Ellison, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5DJ.

The poll closes August 8.

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