A Little Princess at Theatre by the Lake

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

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A Little Princess

Theatre by the Lake, Carlisle and Keswick
17 November 2023-7 January 2024

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

A Little Princess at Theatre by the Lake
Image courtesy of Theatre by the Lake.
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We can always rely on Theatre by the Lake to bring something a little different in the way of family productions at Christmas. This Christmas – following the success of The Secret Garden in 2017 – the team present another Frances Hodgson Burnett classic, A Little Princess, a brand-new performance suitable for children aged 6+ and their families.

A wondrous theatrical experience for the whole family to share this Christmas.

Adapted for the stage by Amanda Dalton, A Little Princess is a beautiful translation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s much-loved children’s story. Celebrating the magic of storytelling, this world premiere promises to be a wondrous theatrical experience for the whole family to share this Christmas.

This new adaptation tells the story of Sara Crewe, as she travels from the freedom of her childhood in India to a boarding school in Northern England. Just as she starts to build a brighter world for herself and her friends, she receives devastating news from home and her life takes a different turn.

Meanwhile, our storyteller, Ramdas, is travelling from Shimla with some news that could change everything. He is on a journey to find the girl with a strong heart and a head full of imagination before it’s too late.

An array of unforgettable characters, an original musical score and clever puppetry…

With a talented cast of nine, Genevieve Sabherwal drives the story as Sara Crewe alongside Ronny Jhutti, Natalie Blair, Victoria Brazier, Tori Burgess, Ella Dunlop, Jonny McGarrity, Eve Pereira and Meriel Schofield. The ensemble will also be joined on stage by a youth cast of 24 talented young performers from the local area.

Director of the production and Artistic Director of Theatre by the Lake, Liz Stevenson told us, “As a child, I saw a film adaptation of A Little Princess at the cinema and it has stayed with me ever since. In 2017 I had a wonderful time directing The Secret Garden for Theatre by the Lake at Christmas and I remember thinking that one day I’d love to make a new production of Burnett’s other classic tale. Several years later, I’m thrilled to be directing Amanda’s new adaptation. It is a celebration of imagination, underpinned by the belief that stories can change the world. I can’t wait to work with this huge group of talented and diverse performers and creatives to share this story with our audiences at Christmas.”

A Little Princess celebrates courage against adversity and the importance of imagination and friendship.

Introducing an array of unforgettable characters, an original musical score and clever puppetry, this charming children’s tale is brought to life on stage. Uplifting and magical, A Little Princess celebrates courage against adversity and the importance of imagination and friendship.

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