Cumbrian Writing

Case Study: Original Cumbria Storytelling 

We’re passionate about nurturing and developing Cumbrian storytelling and bringing those stories to audiences far beyond our walls. A brilliant example of this is Steel, a play that began life right here in our Studio Theatre in Keswick and has since gone on to capture hearts across the region and the country. 

After a successful regional tour, Steel completed a national tour in 2025, finishing with a run at the Park Theatre in London. It’s an extraordinary journey for a play rooted in post-industrial Workington, exploring community, resilience and humour through a distinctly local lens. 

As one audience member shared: 

“Having been born in Workington and with a grandad who worked on Bessemer, I found the exploration of post-industrial life memorable, moving and surprisingly funny.” 

This is our vision in action, theatre written, developed and made in Cumbria, celebrated on the national stage. It’s what drives our mission to make and share great theatre that tells stories, builds communities and celebrates our place. 

Your support helps us keep this momentum going, from developing new work through programmes for new Cumbrian writers, to showcasing these stories at our creative arts festival, CumbriaFest. 

We see it as our role to support and elevate the next generation of Cumbrian writers and share those stories on a local, regional, and national stage.