A leading actress at the Theatre by the Lake has withdrawn from all her roles.

In a short statement, the Keswick theatre said that due to illness, Georgina Ambrey will not be returning for the rest of the summer season.

The young actress was making her professional stage debut in this summer season of shows and had the demanding lead role in the hit show The Rise and Fall of Little Voice.

Georgina studied music in Leeds and graduated only last year after a one-year course at Drama Centre in London before joining the cast of 11 actors for the run of six plays.

She received rave reviews for her role as Little Voice in which she had to impersonate a range of singers such as Judy Garland and Shirley Bassey and was also given leading roles My Mother Said I Never Should and in Dear Uncle.

And she has been nominated in The Stage Debut Awards for 'Best Actress in a Musical' for her performances in Little Voice and My Mother Said I Never Should.

She is nominated alongside West End actors Matthew Broderick (appearing in The Starry Messenger) and Ryan Hutton (in Only Fools and Horses, The Musical).

She said she was thrilled with the praise she and the production of Little Voice had received, saying: “It’s been amazing to have such receptive crowds and so lovely to speak to people after the performances and know they have enjoyed it so much. I adore playing this part and am loving working with such a wonderful team.”

In June, two performances of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, in the Main Theatre, and one of My Mother Said I Never Should, in the Studio, had to be cancelled when the actress fell ill.

The productions resumed and she was said to be fully recovered.

For the opening of Dear Uncle just over a week ago, actress Joëlle Brabban took on her role.

In a statement, the theatre said: "Unfortunately due to illness, Georgina Ambrey will not be returning for the remainder of the season.

"Joëlle Brabban will be playing the roles of Sonya in Dear Uncle, LV in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, and Rosie in My Mother Said I Never Should. TBTL wish Georgina a speedy recovery.

"Joëlle is a graduate of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts BA (Hons) Acting course.

"Post graduating LIPA, she joined the National Theatre’s 10th Anniversary tour of War Horse where she played both Baby Joey and Emilie.

"She has also performed at another National Trust location, Powys Castle, in collaboration with Theatre Clwyd in Hauntings and Pork Pies playing the role of Alison.

"Her film credits include the role of Elise in Jason Wingard’s In Another Life.

"Being half French and raised in Sheffield, she is no stranger to beautiful landscapes but this is her first time in the Lake District and her first time performing with Theatre by the Lake."

The current repertoire of shows runs until November 2.