Local celebrity authors as well as internationally known names will take to the stage at Theatre by the Lake when the week-long festival opens on June 5.

Making its full return since the pandemic, the much-loved festival has joined forces with Bookends, which has branches in Carlisle and Keswick to stage the event.

Describing it as a “phoenix rising” festival, event director Leah Varnell said: “The line-up features some familiar faces and also new events such as live music and theatre alongside many interesting and varied discussions and debates. I can’t wait to be back in Cumbria. And I hope this is just the start of a triumphant return.”

Starting at 10am on most days, events run throughout each day mostly in the theatre’s main house and studio. The popular Poetry Breakfast takes place in Spotlight Café and the theatre production Noddy, Big-Ears and Lashings of Controversy – The Secret Life of Enid Blyton will be performed by On a Role Theatre Company.

Among the well-known names appearing are journalist Polly Toynbee, who will examine her ancestors – including Rosalind, Countess of Carlisle – and the guilt of privilege, arguing for an honest conversation about class in Britain; former minister and MP Chris Mullin on his republished book about the Birmingham bombings; and Luke Harding on the war in Ukraine.

Marie-Elsa Bragg, co-president of the festival along with her father Lord Melvyn Bragg, will lead a spirituality and creative writing workshop and discuss her own new book Sleeping Letters.

Writers with local connections include bestselling novelist MW Craven, Esther Rutter, Polly Atkin, Helen Rebanks, Richard Askwith, Ann Lingard, Kerry Irving, Kenneth Wilson and Angela Locke, while Bookcase Day on June 6 focuses on titles of local interest.

Kathleen Jones, from Penrith, and local poet Katie Hale will host workshops.

Cumbria Life’s own Stuart Maconie will take his audience on an entertaining journey through England, while Tom Chesshyre goes for a nosy ramble through the county.

Other subject matter includes trail-blazing women from Tudor times and the 18th century; the concept of evil discussed by authors who met Myra Hindley and wrote about the James Bulger killers; Greek goddesses; Britain in the 1960s; D-Day and wartime resistance; bookshops of Britain; Cumbrian dialect; Shakespeare; philosophy, poetry, art, faith and more.

A variety of ticket options is available including a Three-Day Festival Pass for entry to all 16 Main House events from Wednesday-Friday at £160, a Weekend Festival Pass for all nine Main House events on June 8-9 at £90 and Studio single day tickets at £40-£50 for five events.

Tickets can be purchased online at theatrebythelake.com, by telephone on 01768 774411 or in person at Theatre by the Lake during box office hours.