Pride and Prejudice at Theatre by the Lake

Keswick, Cumbria, UK. Tuesday, 18-August 2025.

As part of my second cousin Effie's visit to Penrith we organised a trip to our nearby Theatre by the Lake in Keswick for what was billed as an entertaining production of Pride and Prejudice performed in the round. It was part of an action packed day starting off with brunch at Bassenthwaite Lake Station followed by Surprise View for views of Borrowdale and Derwent Water and then a wander round Keswick which is a delightful market town. We then had a pre-theatre lunch at BarES.

The stage was minimalist with four pieces of furniture, however the acting was anything but minimalist. In fact it was at times hilarious. The production stuck pretty faithfully to the plot with all its coming and goings featuring a hysterical Mrs Bennet, a sanguine and sardonic Mr Bennet and well matched Elizabeth and Mr Darcy. We enjoyed it immensely and the professional reviewers agreed.

The Reviews Hub.com writes:

“Played as caricature and farce, this romp is deliciously funny. The more ridiculous characters become even more ridiculous; the more sober-sided characters simply add contrast. Joanna Holden as Mrs. Bennet takes histrionics to a new level, while Dyfrig Morris, as her saturnine husband, quietly ignores the hysterics. Jessica Ellis doubles up as ladette daughter Lydia, emptying the punch ball at parties, and the overbearing snob Lady Catherine, playing both extremes with due relish. Similarly, Ben Fensome makes Wickham a roguish charmer, but turns Mr Collins into the creepiest cleric to ever don a cassock”.

The Northern Arts Review writes:

“Austen is light and fun, but this production gave us some real belly laughs, well beyond the humour of the book. This was entirely due to the superb actors, not one of whom was anything other than faultless. Rosa Hesmondhalgh, as our heroine Elizabeth Bennet, captured the independent, carefree spirit of the character perfectly. Likewise, James Sheldon, as her antagonist, Mr Darcy, was wholly believable as the rugged but honourable gentleman. Together, their portrayals brought laughs and pounding hearts in equal measure. […] For me, this is an easy five stars. In fact, this is six out of five stars, as far as I’m concerned. The play was absolute perfection. If you love Jane Austen, you simply have to see this version. If, like me, you’re lukewarm at best, go see it and have your mind – and heart – changed.”

A hugely entertaining and enjoyable visit to the theatre.