THEATRE by the Lake has appointed Liz Stevenson as its new artistic director.

Liz - who takes over from Conrad Lynch who stepped down from the Keswick theatre last September - is currently a freelance director and artistic director of Chorley-based theatre company, Junction 8.

After training on the Theatre Directing MFA at Birkbeck College, she has directed plays for York Theatre Royal and Manchester’s Royal Exchange, and as TBTL’s associate director, she directed its 2017’s Christmas show The Secret Garden.

Liz said she was delighted to have been appointed: “It’s an honour to be invited to lead the theatre’s artistic vision at this exciting time, making inspirational theatre for, with and about Cumbrian communities, and building on the theatre’s reputation for making bold and ambitious work.”

Liz steps into the spotlight in May and will work with the TBTL team planning her first season for 2020.