T  he classic British cinema comedy of all time and a modern classic play of love and family ties launch the summer programme of shows at the Theatre by the Lake this week.

West End star Marti Webb, trad Irish favourites Lunasa and the Pasadena Roof Orchestra are among the big musical draws.

The stage version of The Ladykillers opens on the main stage at the Keswick theatre tonight, while My Mother Said I Never Should begins its run in The Studio.

The Ladykillers has been adapted for the stage by Graham Linehan, co-creator of the much-loved TV comedies Father Ted and Black Books.

Other plays performing in rep in the main house this summer are Olivier award-winning The Rise And Fall of Little Voice, which was also a hugely popular movie, and Dear Uncle which is an Alan Ayckbourn adaptation of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya.

The Studio will also showcase regional premiere’s of the dark nuclear comedy The Children and Guards At The Taj.

As well as the plays, the theatre has also lined up a typically varied mix of music, comedy, talks and family friendly performances through the summer months and into autumn.

Marti Webb appears in a fundraiser for the Keswick Rotary Club to talk about her life in musicals such as Evita and Tell Me On A Sunday and sing hits such as Take That Look Off Your Face.

The Pasadena Roof Orchestra stop off with their hot jazz sounds from the Twenties and Thirties as part of their 50th anniversary tour, while there’s music from the sixties performed by The Manfreds.

Comedy includes a visit from Radio 4 favourite Mark Steel and award-winning stand-up Dave Johns who is best known for his heartbreaking performance in I Daniel Blake.

There is also an Evening of Eric and Ern, celebrating the timeless comedy of Morecambe and Wise and a performance of songs, stories and sketches by the Lakeland Dialect Society in Ya Mek Me Laff.

Among the family friendly shows is an adventure with Dr Ben Garrod for brave youngsters titled So You Think You Know About Dinosaurs

The season of classical music presented by the Keswick Music Society includes a Brexit-busting performance from the European Union Chamber Orchestra, the Pelleas Ensemble of viola, flute and harp and Jonathan Radford and Ashley Fripp,

Talks include Reza Pakravan on his trek across the Sahel region of Africa’s Forgotten Frontiers and astrobiologist Lewis Dartnell explaining How The Earth Made Us.

n For more details and tickets, go to www.theatrebythelake.com or call 017687 74411