Notes to the Editor - Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, Cumbria

Notes to the Editor

Below we have listed some helpful facts and figures to help you with any queries or background information you may require for your article. Should you require a more personal touch, we would be delighted to help you organize an interview with Directors, cast members or anyone else that would be appropriate - simply give Rachel Swift or Sam Bunting a quick call on 017687 72282.

Theatre by the Lake is the only English Regional Producing Theatre to have been built with National Lottery Funding.
Theatre by the Lake houses the only venue-based professional producing theatre in Cumbria, and attracts audiences from all over the United Kingdom.
The £6.25 million Theatre by the Lake project opened in 1999 on time and within budget. Theatre by the Lake has established itself as a successful cultural business and has had a positive effect on the local economy.
The first performance at Theatre by the Lake took place on 19 August 1999, and the building was officially opened by Dame Judi Dench and Michael Williams in December of the same year.
Since that first performance Theatre by the Lake has sold an average of 120,000 tickets per year, staged over 3000 performances, opened 59 home productions and 3 co-productions and mounted 5 regional and national tours.
Since opening, Theatre by the Lake has increased annual audiences for theatre in Keswick six-fold, from under 20,000 in the year before opening to over 130,000 annually.
The Theatre has directly created over 100 full time jobs and has indirectly facilitated the creation of a further 200 jobs.
Theatre by the Lake receives core funding of just 20% of its turnover from the Arts Council and local authorities – compared with the national average of 50% for other theatres of a similar size.
Theatre by the Lake has wheelchair spaces in both auditoria, adapted toilets on each floor and lifts and flat floor access to all areas.

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