Behind The Scenery

Ep.38 Lark Rise To Candleford at Theatre by the Lake March 26

Lark Rise to Candleford is the new production at Theatre bythe Lake in Keswick. [https://www.theatrebythelake.com/event/lark-rise-to-candleford-keswick-lake-district-theatre/] It’s a portrait of rural England which brings Flora Thompson [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flora_Thompson]’sclassic to the stage, woven together with original live folk music performed by an ensemble cast. And it’s about how the gentle rhythm of the changing seasons brings a yearning for something else, something more. It’s been written and directed by Hammerpuzzle Theatre Company [https://hammerpuzzle.co.uk/] and is a co-production with Watermill Theatre [https://www.watermill.org.uk/] in Berkshire. Tom Speight [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-speight-5367a74/]’s been talking to its co-artistic directors to find out why this adaptation, and why now…

Ep. 37 Blacksmith & welder Ellie Barden December 25

A brand new set of enormous pieces of public art are aboutto be added to the Cumbrian landscape. [https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/25538130.bull-graiggoch-rambo-immortalised-sculpture-near-carlisle/] Five metres high and distinctive by their style of strips of metal, a huge bull and a mare with a foal have been commissioned by Cumberland Council to mark the completion of the new Carlisle southern link road. Not without some differences of opinion about them, the new work will dominate two roundabouts for thousands of road users to see for years to come. They’ve been created by Cumbrian born blacksmith and welder Ellie Barden [https://www.graceforge.co.uk/about-me] at her forge and workshop near Penrith. On a fresh winter’s morning, Tom Speight went to meet Ellie as she finalised her work, to discover how she became inspired to become and remain an artist in Cumbria….

Ep. 36 Barrow Music Weekender October 25

Barrow Music Weekender [https://barrowmusic.co.uk/2025/09/21/stage-set-for-barrow-music-weekender-2025/] returns this month with four days of live music right across town. Now in its fifth year, the festival sees people of all ages come together for fantastic – and mostly free – music experiences. There’s a musical trail map, a mini conference looking at thehealth of live music and performance in the town, workshops, dancing and live performance in venues right across the musical spectrum. There’ll also be a chance to see and experience Light Organ [https://www.lightorgan.org/], an amazing audio reactive artwork that brings sound to life. Tom Speight has been to meet the people who make it allhappen - beginning with a challenge from the festival organiser.

Ep.35 Wrestle at Florence Arts Centre, Egremont September 25

If you need to sort your leg up buttock from your insidehipe, then a new exhibition celebrating Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling [https://www.cwwa.org.uk/] at Florence Arts Centre [https://www.florenceartscentre.com/] in Egremont is the place for you. Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling is a traditional formof “backhold” wrestling with origins going back to Viking times. It has strong cultural connections with farming and heavy industry; men would wrestle after work in their long-john underwear. “Wrestle” tells the story of the sport through original artwork by Janet Moss, [https://artingabout.co.uk/] contemporary photography by Chris Routledge [https://chrisroutledge.pictures/], archive photos and costumes and a community embroidery project. And to celebrate the exhibition’s opening, a demonstrationof some of the holds and tactics was put on too. Tom Speight went along to watch to find out more…

Ep.34 Tullie re-opening in Carlisle August 25

Tullie [https://tullie.org.uk/], in Carlisle, describes itself as a museum, artgallery, community hub and generally a great place – as well as being a home for the eternally curious. It’s 130 years old now. And it’s just undergone a £4.5 million transformation [https://tullie.org.uk/project-tullie/], fully reopening in April. Funding came from the government's Town Fund and Future High Streets Fund, Arts Council England and Cumberland Council. So how’s its first summer being fully reopened gone ? And who’s been visiting ? Tom Speight’s been along to find out, and as the hugely successful Dinosaur Revolution exhibition draws to a close, he met a few young dinosaur experts on the way as he was shown around to discover how the new Tullie has been blended with the old…