Theatre By The Lake announces 2026 summer and winter season including The Farmer’s Wife and Every Brilliant Thing

Theatre by the Lake has announced its season for summer and winter 2026.

Two shows will be directed by artistic director and joint chief executive Liz Stevenson. The Farmer’s Wife, written by Hannah Khalil and based on Helen Rebanks’ memoir, will receive its world premiere in September. Set in rural Cumbria, the play follows three generations of women on a family farm.

Every Brilliant Thing returns in August following an earlier run and tour. The piece by Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe examines mental health and everyday details that shape daily life. It will be staged in the Studio before touring to community venues in the region.

These productions sit alongside revivals and existing titles including Nell Gwynn, Calendar Girls the Musical, and A Christmas Carol.

The theatre’s Christmas activity includes family work in the Studio, with A Town Called Christmas running in December and Pinocchio following immediately after.

Additional performances include Herman’s Hermits, a screening event based on Murder, She Wrote, and a stage adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray. New writing and touring productions also feature, including Off Grid and In the Land of Eagles.