Last updated 15:18, Monday, 24 November 2008

CHARLES Dickens is being hailed as the perfect writer for these credit crunch times (even the BBC has adapted Little Dorrit), so it’s apt that the Theatre by the Lake’s seasonal production is A Christmas Carol.

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Classic: Peter Macqueen as Scrooge in the Theatre by the Lake’s A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol, like Little Dorrit also tells of debt and poverty, but scrimping, penny-pinching Scrooge learns to repent and simple kindness triumphs over grasping greed.

It is one of the world’s great heart-warming stories and Theatre by the Lake’s classic production is bound to prompt tears and smiles. Those with even the hardest of hearts will be persuaded to stop thinking about interest rates and collapsing banks and consider instead a triumph of simple humanity.

The Theatre by the Lake’s A Christmas Carol is a revival of the hugely successful production that was its first Christmas show in 1999.

A Christmas Carol opens at the Theatre by the Lake on Saturday, November 29 (the is also a preview on Friday, November 28) and runs until Saturday, January 17. Tickets cost £8-£21, available from www.theatrebythelake.com or by calling 017687 74411.

Maid of Buttermere

IN MARCH next year the Theatre by the Lake stage the world premiere of a dramatisation of Melvyn Bragg’s novel, The Maid of Buttermere.

This play has been specially commissioned from writer Lisa Evans as part of Theatre by the Lake’s 10th anniversary celebrations. On Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7 auditions will be held at the theatre to cast a community chorus to work alongside the professional acting company.

Following the theatre’s enormously successful production of The Hired Man in 2004, this project will once again be a collaboration between Theatre by the Lake and members of the immediate Cumbrian community.

A cast of 11 professional actors will work together with a community cast of between 20 and 30 local amateur performers under the guidance of Theatre by the Lake’s professional creative team.

Ian Forrest, Artistic Director said: “The involvement and commitment of the local amateur performers was a crucial part of the success of The Hired Man.”

The theatre is looking for a team of around 30 amateur performers of varying age to work alongside the professional performers as the Cumbrian chorus. Some will also be required to take on small speaking parts. Performers are required who are confident about singing, as well as having acting, dancing and movement skills.

Lengthy and demanding commitment to the project is required. Weekend rehearsals will take place throughout February, followed by more intensive rehearsals three nights a week, plus weekends, once the professional company start rehearsing in late February. The performance schedule will require a commitment from performers every night (Monday to Saturday) and for Saturday matinée performances during the four week run.

There will be two sessions on Saturday morning and two on Sunday afternoon and auditionees will choose to attend one of these sessions. For information on how to audition visit www.theatrebythelake.com/takepart or contact Lynne Clarke on 017687 81108 by Wednesday, November 26, at 5pm.