THE visual and performing arts world of Cumbria and the North West rubbed shoulders at Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre last week in a special get-to-know-everybody day.

The Kendal arts centre was closed to the public for the event, organised by North West Arts and Northern Arts, featuring more than 200 artisans from the region.

Pictured below are Deborah Maurice - artistic director of the Collaborators Theatre Company - with Richard Sandra who, along with Jonah Maurice, performed for the gathering.

Among their forthcoming dates, the doyens of puppet theatre perform at Keswick's Theatre by the Lake from December 18 until January 11, staging Tom Thumb twice a day (morning and afternoon).

Deborah told me: "It's a fresh, feisty adaptation with all the light and dark of a true fairy tale."

The Theatre by the Lake box office number is 017687-74411.