Play tipped to be a big success

Last updated 11:48, Wednesday, 03 September 2008

CUMBRIA’S very own ‘Gone With The Wind’ romantic tragedy is set to become one of Keswick Theatre by the Lake’s biggest success stories.

Booking for the run of Melvyn Bragg’s story about the seduction of the Maid of Buttermere opened this week, and already theatre officials say there has been a heavy demand for tickets for their spring production.

The Maid of Buttermere, which forms part of Theatre by the Lake’s tenth anniversary season, is an adaptation by playwright Lisa Evans of the 1987 novel by Melvyn Bragg, who based his book on a true Lake District story that took the country by storm 200 years ago and has been hailed as Cumbria’s ‘Gone with the Wind’.

It tells how Mary Robinson, the daughter of the innkeeper of the Fish Inn at Buttermere, was seduced and married by a philandering cad who met his death on the gallows in Carlisle.

The production features a cast of professional actors supported by amateurs from Keswick and district. Lisa Evans, who is currently adapting Bragg’s book for the stage, said: “This book has it all: History, adventure, love and tragedy and it’s local.”

Lord Bragg was present in Keswick for the recent announcement of the staging of his book. It is the first time has allowed it to go on stage – and that was only because of his admiration for the Keswick theatre and its directing staff.

Bookings for The Maid of Buttermere, which begins its short run on March 21 2009, can be made in person at the box office or by phone on 017687 74411, or online at www.theatrebythelake.com

The Theatre by the Lake summer season of seven plays continues until the beginning of November. One of the Studio plays, The Bogus Woman which stars Krissi Bohn playing over 50 characters, was given a four-star rating by The Independent.