Theatre by the Lake

Theatre by the Lake stands beside Derwentwater in Keswick, a permanent brick building with two auditoria. It replaced the mobile Century Theatre, which had toured since 1961 and parked on the lakeside car park from 1975. Outline planning permission for a permanent site was granted in 1991, and the new theatre opened in August 1999. Dame Judi Dench broke ground in 1998 and remains its patron. A National Lottery grant helped fund the £6.5 million project chosen by public vote. The resident company performs six plays in repertory each summer, with Christmas and spring shows filling the calendar. Festivals such as Words by the Water, Jennings Keswick Jazz, and the Keswick Film Festival take place here. Visiting companies bring drama, music, dance, talks, comedy and film throughout the season. The Main House seats 400 while the Studio seats 100, offering varied programmes in both spaces. Visitors find a modern theatre on the lake shore with clear views across the water. The building sits where the Century Theatre once stood, now framed by the fells. Inside, the Main House and Studio present plays, concerts and festivals year-round. Lakeside walks lead from the car park to the entrance, linking the town to the water’s edge.