Theatre by the Lake has revealed its summer and winter 2026 programme, featuring the world premiere of The Farmer’s Wife and a revival of Every Brilliant Thing. The season includes a mix of new productions, revivals, and community touring shows.

Theatre by the Lake’s 2026 season will open with the world premiere of The Farmer’s Wife, written by Hannah Khalil and inspired by Helen Rebanks’ memoir. The production, directed by artistic director and joint chief executive Liz Stevenson, is set in rural Cumbria and explores the lives of three generations of women on a family farm.

Following its previous run and tour, Every Brilliant Thing will return in August. Written by Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe, the play delves into mental health through the lens of everyday moments. It will be performed in the theatre’s Studio space before embarking on a tour of community venues across the region.

Alongside these new and returning productions, the season will include revivals of Nell Gwynn and Calendar Girls the Musical, as well as a staging of the seasonal classic A Christmas Carol. The theatre’s Christmas programme will feature family-oriented work in the Studio, starting with A Town Called Christmas in December, followed by Pinocchio.

Additional events in the 2026 calendar include a performance related to Herman’s Hermits, a screening event inspired by the TV series Murder, She Wrote, and a stage adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray. New writing and regional touring productions such as Off Grid and In the Land of Eagles will also be part of the programme.

The mix of world premieres, revivals, and community-focused events underlines Theatre by the Lake’s ongoing commitment to diverse storytelling and engagement with local and wider audiences. Details on exact dates and ticket availability are to be confirmed.