Beautiful location offering a confined space and big open performance area. It is no longer open all of the time but the local museum offer summer tours. There may be a route to arranging for it to be used this far in advance. The condition isn't what it was 30 years ago and I'd need to investigate safety issues. I believe that there are public toilets in the adjacent park. There wouldn't be a wet weather contingency on site. Workington offers proximity to Cockermouth, Workington, Maryport and Whitehaven schools.

Workington Hall

Outskirts of Whitehaven and one of the few places where you can get a view to the Lake District fells from the west coast (you'll have to trust me, it was a bit cloudy by the time we got there. This is the rugby club, which would provide all of the facilities and a wet weather alternative. Good proximity to Whitehaven, Workington adn Cockermouth schools.

Moresby

Rosehill has both a traditional end on theatre plus the barn, a licensed performance space (upstairs). There is also a grassed area to the side of the barn (although pretty uneven ground). Rosehill have experessed an interest in taking Fell alrerady, but it is somewhere that may be persuaded to Tech the show (generally they don't have performances during the week). There would be no tech support during a Tech other than potentially to rig but its not a complex venue. Having the outdoor area could mean there is the opportunity to Tech both inside and out. Good proximity to Workington, Whitehaven and Cockermouth schools.

Apologies for my own 'poachers dog' making an appearance in this one!

Rosehill Theatre (Whitehaven)

Some general photos of Maryport plus the Ewanrigg Centre which is a really good community venue in one of the most deprived parts of Cumbria. Netherhall School in Maryport also has a great drama focus (and good facilities). Good prximity for Cockermouth, Workington and Maryport Schools

Maryport

PENRITH

Rheged is a service station and visitor attraction at the entrance point to the North Lakes. It has a cinema and interesting visual arts programme. It is owned and managed by the Wesdtmorland family (who also own Tebay Services). I agree that everything about it says it should be a good venue, and yet I struggled to find anywhere that was suitable to perform. In Summer it is a very busy building and has a lot of (paid for) activity going on. I also think the family are very commerically focussed. I've tried to engage Rheged in the past from Theatre by the Lake and they just aren't interested. I suspect at best, they will make space available if they don't get an offer that could earn them more!

Rheged

Behind Rheged, is Sunbeams Music Trust, a centre delivering community music therapy to disabled young people and adults.

I must admit to not knowing a lot about it, but its location is amazing, with a backdrop of the Lake District Fells, has loads of outdoor space, and outdoor undercover space (the canopy on the third picture) and an indoor space. I can see an opportunity here for a residency, although we may have to explore a music approach to make it relevant to them.

Well placed for Penrith, Keswick, Appleby, Kirby Stephen and some Carlisle schools.

Sunbeams Music Trust

West Cumbria

Located between Cockermouth and Carlisle, Wigton is a really typical West Cumbrian town. Aspiration is low and nothing good ever happens there. There's been real issues with anti-social behaviour in the recent past.

Wigton Youth Station has been in existence for 26 years and is a real beacon in the town. I've not engaged with them before, but I suspect a residency in the town, supported by them would be really welcome. The town has a very good secondary school who are very arts engaged, so there could be a 3-way partnership with them. Good proximity to Wigton, Aspatria, Carlisle, Dalston, Cockewrmouth schools.

Wigton

Located between Whitehaven and Cockermouth, Ennerdale Bridge is a village 1.5 miles from Ennerdale Water.

In the heart of the village is a community run centre, The Gather. Upstairs at the Gather is a small venue, predoiminently for music. Community engagement of the centre is amazing. At 11am on a sunday morning, we just managed to get the last table of about 15 in the cafe. I suspect they would be really interested in community engagement.

There is also the bonus of this being near the lake, a perfect stimulus for rehearsals. Remote, on the edge of the Lake District fells and a days walk from Whitehaven - just the kind of place that Lyle could have got himself to.

Ennerdale Bridge

Gosling Sike is a Cumbria Wildflife Trust reserve, through which they do a lot of engagement with young people in the city and county. There is a visitor centre with some indoor space and facilities, and about a 10 minute walk away is a beautiful manmade wood. In this wood they engage young people in nature projects and just the joy of being in nature. I think they may be up for a residency here. Downside, we'd have to srike everything every night as its a public wood.

Great proximity to Carlisle schools.

Carlisle