A much-loved theatre in West Cumbria was delighted to see familiar faces return and new ones pop through the door in a "welcome back" party.

After 18 months of difficulty caused by the Covd-19 pandemic, the Rosehill Theatre in Moresby, Whitehaven hosted a free day of events and activities for all the family on Saturday September 25 from 11am to 5pm.

Throughout the day, the theatre had a variety of live performances featuring an array of talent – both from West Cumbria and further afield.

Among the highlights were five acoustic acts presented as part of the BBC Music Introducing in Cumbria showcase.

Rosehill Theatre's Creative and Community Producer, Dan Whitehouse, said they were "delighted" to see people returning to the theatre.

"The fun day was a great opportunity for Rosehill to welcome families back into our space and to engage in an array of creative activities and be entertained after a very difficult 18 months of limited live performance," said Dan.

"We were really delighted with the turnout throughout the day and especially seeing so many new faces through our door.

"We look forward to putting on more events like this in the future and ensuring that we can continue to, where possible, provide free or low-cost cultural opportunities for the community."

The Covid-19 pandemic caused heavy disruption in the performance entertainment industry, with many theatres having to temporarily close their doors and find new ways of adapting.

Music wasn't the only thing on offer to returning visitors, who were also treated to entertainment from magicians and mermaids.

Story-telling, craft workshops and science shows also added to the day of fun and contributed to a "wonderful" atmosphere.

For more information about the Rosehill Theatre, upcoming events and how you can access tickets, visit their website at https://www.rosehilltheatre.co.uk/.

You can also keep up to date with what is going on at the Rosehill Theatre by visiting their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Rosehilltheatre.