JIM Cartwright is one of the UK's most respected dramatists.

Probably best known for The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, his first stage play, Road (1986) won a clutch of awards before being adapted for television. Such was the acclaim, the play set Jim off on the highway to success as a northern playwright in the realist tradition of revered names such as Willy Russell and Alan Bleasdale.

Born and brought up at Farnworth, Lancashire in 1958, another of Jim's jewels is Two, which is Theatre by the Lake’s spring show, running from Saturday, March 21 until Tuesday, April 14.

The play follows 14 characters over the course of an evening in their local pub. They all gather to share their tales, ranging from hilarious to hopeless. The landlord and lady bustle behind the bar, serving everyone from a hen-pecked husband to an old woman, a womanising young man and a little boy searching for his father.

On the one hand, Jim has a great ear for comic dialogue and some of the exchanges between his characters are laugh out loud funny. On the other, he also recognises that behind comedy often lies tragedy; humour can mask deep sadness.

Two continues the popular Keswick theatre's trend of last year’s Not About Heroes - also a spring Studio show featuring two actors. It was a huge success, and starred actor Matt Addis, who returns to Keswick after completing a starring role in the international tour of War Horse, to play all the male characters in Two,

Joining Matt at the bar for a swift half will be Janine Birkett, who last appeared in Keswick in summer 2013 – in Vincent in Brixton, ’Tis Pity She’s a Whore and She Stoops to Conquer.

Two was the first Studio production Theatre by the Lake ever programmed and after 15 years artistic director Ian Forrest thought it would be exciting to do it all again in a brand new production, with a new design and new actors.

"It’s a great play," explained Ian. "In fact I would call it a modern classic. There’s something for everyone to enjoy. It’s very funny but it’s also very moving.

"Aside from that it’s a brilliant virtuoso challenge for two actors to play 14 characters and that in itself will be really impressive for audiences to watch."

Tickets are available at www.theatrebythelake.com or by calling the box office on 017687-74411.

After its initial Keswick run, the play heads off on a whistle stop tour of small venues around Cumbria, stopping off at Santon Bridge Village Hall (April 16), the Beggar’s Theatre in Millom (April 17), Torpenhow Village Hall (April 18), Tullie House at Carlisle (April 21/22), Ulverston's Coronation Hall (April 23), Wreay Village Hall (April 24) and last, but not least, Orton Market Hall (April 25). Tickets are available from the individual venues.