A POPULAR Cumbria theatre has announced it will have to make staff redundant as well as cancel its Christmas production to ensure its survival.

Theatre By The Lake said that due to the coronavirus it has been severely affected by Government restrictions, losing vital income from ticket sales.

Executive director James Cobbold and artistic director Liz Stevenson said: “Our industry is facing an exceptionally challenging situation for the foreseeable future.

“We’ve come to the incredibly difficult conclusion that we have to take action now to ensure Theatre by the Lake survives this challenging period of disruption and uncertainty.

“Our staff are talented, knowledgeable and creative people who care deeply about the work they do and the difference they make in their community.

“However if there is to be theatre in Keswick, and if we are to provide employment opportunities in the future then we have no choice but to consider these actions in the short term.”

The theatre is cancelling its Christmas production of The Borrowers and will implement redundancies, with a smaller team managing and maintaining the theatre.

It is still not known when the venue will be able to reopen.

Public funding accounts for just 20 per of the theatre’s turnover, which means it is heavily reliant on earned income, which is normally of over £2.5m each year from trading, donations and ticket sales.

Theatre By The Lake said its heavy reliance on ticket sales, means it has been affected worse than other theatres which receive a greater proportion of income from the Arts Council.

A spokesman said: “Theatres nationally are reporting that they are at significant risk, with some venues having already entered administration or announcing the risk of redundancies.

“Theatre by the Lake’s proactive plan is intended to protect the future of the theatre.

“The cancellation of the planned Christmas show, The Borrowers, comes as significant financial investment would have been required in advance of the production, but without the confidence to be able to achieve strong audiences due to social distancing and audience concerns.”

The theatre will be undertaking redundancy consultations with staff over the next two months

Whilst the theatre has been closed, the team has been planning a number of digital initiatives to engage audiences including Come to Where I Am with Paines Plough to co-commission four Cumbrian playwrights to write a short play about where they live.

The theatre’s representatives added: “For the theatre industry to survive this crisis, we must see further investment quickly. Britain’s world-class reputation for theatre must be protected.”