Theatre by the Lake (TBTL) is celebrating its 25th anniversary year with an almost £68,000 grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The money - from the Government's £2.6 billion "Levelling Up" fund - will be used to improve the theatre's technical facilities.
The first phase involves providing new LED stage lighting and a sound desk – which will benefit both the professional company and community groups using the venue.
Executive director and Joint CEO of TBTL, Simon Stephens, said: “In enabling this major technical upgrade, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund has helped to ensure we can continue to provide professional support and cultural experiences of the highest quality for local communities.”
The sound desk has already been used - for the local Keswick Amateur Operatic Society’s recent production of The Sound of Music.
The upgrade is the first step in a plan to replace all tungsten theatre lighting at TBTL with LED lighting, which uses 30% less energy. In the coming weeks the theatre will buy four motorised LED lights for the main auditorium, and portable lights and controls for the studio. Investing in portable lighting enables the theatre to improve its production lighting when touring to civic and rural venues across Cumbria.