THEATRE by the Lake opened its doors in August 1999. Since, it has presented almost 2,000 performances and played to more than a third of a million people.

Executive director Patric Gilchrist tells me what's next for the Keswick theatre:

"I still find it hard to believe that we've been open for three-and-a-half years. Yet in many ways it's remarkable how quickly the theatre has established itself as a vital part of the geographical, cultural and social landscape of Cumbria.

"In the last year alone we've put on 600 performances nearly 400 of those were of our own productions with our own companies of actors. This has been the core of our work

since we opened high quality home-produced drama.

"Ian Forrest, our artistic director, has wrestled long and hard with the programme for next summer. The challenge is to find six plays for a company of just 11 actors. In the end I think he has come up with a wonderful selection: Alan Ayckbourn, Nel Coward, an adaptation of a classic novel and three really interesting contemporary plays in the studio.

"And then there's our youth theatre work involving more than 300 young people from north and west Cumbria right through the year. As well as productions and special projects we run regular weekly drama skills workshops in Workington, Cockermouth, Carlisle and Keswick and, from next term, Silloth.

We've already achieved far more than was ever expected when the theatre was being built but there are still so many new possibilities for the future. The support of the public has been fantastic ever since we opened. That's definitely the key to our success."

Meanwhile, Collaborators Theatre Company presents a fresh and feisty puppet theatre production of the Tom Thumb folk tale at the theatre until January 11. Performances are in the studio at 11am and 2.30pm.

Running in the main theatre until January 18 is Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, a new adaptation of the Lewis Carroll book, with music.

Box office 017687-74411.

January 2, 2003 14:00