Lark Rise… a sprinkling of poignancy and nostalgia!

Welcome to the latest from Theatre by the Lake. From rehearsal rooms to opening night, discover the stories, people, and creative processes behind our work in Keswick…

Have you ever seen a cello defying gravity and being played on the move?

This is just one of many talents revealed during this uplifting musical adaptation of the book, Lark Rise to Candleford, two hours of delight with a sprinkling of poignancy and nostalgia!

The book was originally written between 1939 and 1945 by Flora Thompson as part of a semi-autobiographical trilogy, documenting life in rural England at the end of the 19th century. It was adapted for TV between 2008 – 2011 (with many still famous actors in the cast) and now it has been refreshed and revitalised as a musical, written and composed by Tamsin Kennard and directed by Bryn Holding.

The story is told through the eyes of Laura Timmins a young woman growing up in a poor household in Larkrise. She is different from her siblings, desires more out of life so she takes the opportunity to move to Candleford (a richer, larger village) to live with her cousin Dorcas, an independent woman of means, who runs the local post office. Laura’s eyes are opened to new experiences and social attitudes, some good some not.

This is a play about relationships, love, loss, regret and the beginnings of the emancipation of women at the end of the 19th century.

Although this new stage version touches on the serious side of life for women of the time there is a lot of humour and energy; there is singing, dancing and instrument playing.

There are six phenomenal actors who play multiple roles, with multiple accents! It is difficult to single out individual performances but Jessica Temple who plays Laura, Rosalind Ford who plays Dorcas and Zrey Sholapurkar who plays Godfrey stand out as key to the storyline.

The joyful folk songs are striking and memorable – wait for the ‘Barley Mow’ song! Another notable feature is the stage set, designed by Anna Kelsey. It remains the same throughout while the actors seamlessly move the props to create new scenes with great effect, travelling by horse and carriage between the villages is particularly clever.

Laura believes she has “a life well lived” and that is all we can ask for. In these uncertain times this production will certainly lift your spirits.

Lark Rise to Candleford is showing at Theatre by the Lake from Thursday 26 March to Saturday 18 April.