A POPULAR theatre is looking forward to opening its doors and welcoming back audiences.

Keswick's Theatre by the Lake has announced it will reopen its building for live performances from October 6. People can book tickets from Wednesday.

Their autumn season consists of two Main House shows, 'Home I’m Darling' by Laura Wade and 'Jacaranda' by Lorna French, taking the programme up to Christmas – which will be announced in September.

'Home I’m Darling' is a co-production with Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough and The Octagon, Bolton and runs from October 6 to 30.

The show opened on July 9 in Scarborough to ecstatic audience reception and is directed by TBTL’s artistic director Liz Stevenson.

The story centres on Judy and Johnny – a couple with the seemingly perfect marriage. But behind the gingham curtains all is not quite what it seems.

Described as a ‘blistering comedy’, the show explores gender roles in modern Britain. The production has already clocked a five-star review from the Yorkshire Post who called it “seriously funny”.

'Jacaranda' is a co-production with Pentabus – the nation’s leading rural touring theatre – and is a play that explores love, loss, prejudice, race and belonging through a chance meeting of two unlikely strangers on the longest night of the year. It runs from November 4 to 13.

A spokesman said: "To ensure that audiences feel comfortable returning to the theatre, both shows will go on sale with some guaranteed socially distanced performances.

"Other performances will be sold initially in socially distanced conditions in bubbles of varying sizes which may be relaxed to full capacity at a later date."

The theatre has also catered for those for whom an in-person visit to the theatre is too soon by announcing a digital on-demand version of 'Home I’m Darling'.

Strict Covid precautions will be in place to ensure the safety of audiences with enhanced cleaning, ventilation, safe queueing systems in place and reduced touchpoints. Audiences can also book with confidence knowing that the theatre allows maximum flexibility to exchange or refund your ticket(s) up to 24 hours before the performance.

Liz Stevenson said: "Our whole team have been immensely touched by the support we’ve received from our community over this period of closure. Whilst we’ve learnt so much from our digital season of work, we’ve also seen how much live theatre has been missed in our region.

"We’re thrilled to be opening with these two productions, which have been made with some incredible companies and artists from across the country. It’s going to be a very special moment when our doors open for the first time."