Jacaranda At Theatre By The Lake, Keswick Review

Reviewed by Jo Hardy

Jacaranda is  performed on a “thrust stage” which is similar to “theatre in the round” but with the audience only on three sides. It gives the same immersive feel to the production and as there are only two characters in this performance, this type of stage setting really did increase the feeling of intimacy with the actors.

The set was quite simple with what I at first thought was a bed with pillows and quilts but it soon became apparent that this was to represent a rural countryside setting, the lighting very cleverly gave the feeling of it being night but still lit the actors faces well so we could get clear views of their faces .

The only two characters in the production  Olivia Dudzai played by Mara Allen, a graduate from RADA, and Marty Taylor played by Stuart Laing who has a huge list of theatre, tv and film credits are strangers who happen to meet by a stream one night , they both have their prejudices which become apparent as their conversation develops, they both also have a connection to animals but from two very different angles , one a vet and the other a gamekeeper, during the night as their personal stories unfold we also see them together take care of an injured mother curlew and her chicks, and slowly they open up to each other and  reveal their personnel troubles .

Although the curlew is represent in a very basic way and we don’t actually see the chicks the puppetry was so good  I really did get the feeling of them being there and I wanted them to survive.

A lovely story which showed me how even when we are very different and have very different views on things we can still help each other.

Jacaranda by award winning playwright Lorna French has been commissioned by Pentabus and is at Theatre by the Lake from Saturday 6th November until Saturday 13th November the show starts at 7.30pm and there are also three matinee performances Friday 5th, Wednesday 10th and Friday 12th which start at 2.30pm.

The play lasts for 70 minutes with no intermission, and is suitable for ages 14 plus. Some dates are full capacity performances and some dates are guaranteed socially distanced performances .

I think it’s important to say that the play does include references to pregnancy and child loss which could be upsetting to some people.  

Tickets are priced from £10 and can be booked online at theatrebythelake.com 

Theatre by the Lake is a beautiful modern building . It has good wheelchair access. There is plenty of pay and display parking available which is only £1 after 7pm and a good café serving a wide range of food and drink . The staff and volunteers here are lovely and always give such a warm welcome .

The theatre has lots of covid protection protocols in place ,such as hand sanitiser being available , contactless ticketing system and they do ask that the audience wears masks which most people adhered to.

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To book tickets please visit https://www.theatrebythelake.com/event/jacaranda/.