To coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Academy Award nominated film, Mike Kenny's new adaptation of E. Nesbit's novel The Railway Children will be performed at a unique venue at Waterloo Station in the former Eurostar terminal. The auditorium, created especially for this production, will be built with the audience seated either side of the original railway track, with the action taking place both on the track and on the platforms either side. The production, which uses the old Gentleman's saloon carriage from the original classic film, will also feature a period steam train from the National Railway Museum in York.
The Railway Children , which previews from 4 July, with press night 12 July and is booking until 4 September 2010, is supported by Welcome to Yorkshire, the official tourism agency for Yorkshire. Casting will be announced shortly.
Directed by Damian Cruden, design by Jo Scotcher, lighting by
Richard G. Jones, with music by Christopher Madin and sound by Craig Vear, Mike Kenny's adaptation of The Railway Children was first produced by York Theatre Royal at the National Railway Museum, York, where it enjoyed two sell-out and critically acclaimed seasons in 2008 and 2009.
The Railway Children tells the story of Bobby, Peter and Phyllis, three children whose lives change dramatically when their father is mysteriously taken away. They move from London to a cottage in rural Yorkshire with their mother where they befriend the local railway porter and embark on a magical journey of discovery, friendship and adventure. But the mystery remains - where is Father, and is he ever coming back?
E. Nesbit's much loved children's bookThe Railway Children was first published in 1906 and has subsequently been adapted for the stage and screen, most famously in the 1970 film version directed by the late
Lionel Jeffries and starring
Jenny Agutter,
Bernard Cribbins, Dinah Sheridan and Sally Thomsett.
The Railway Children is presented in London by Jenny King and
Matthew Gale for The Touring Consortium (Railway Children),
Tristan Baker, Oliver Royds,
PW Productions and
Sue Scott Davison who present a York Theatre Royal production, in association with the National Railway Museum. The production has been made possible with the support of the BRB (Residuary) Ltd and Network Rail. The production is in support of the Railway Children Charity that aims to help homeless and runaway children throughout the world, with £1 per ticket sale donated to the charity.
With workshops and community opportunities, The Railway Children will also be supported by the Science Museum and Lambeth Council. In addition there will be a photographic exhibition mounted by the Railway Children Charity and a schools project What Does Home Mean to Me?
Damian Cruden has been Artistic Director of York Theatre Royal for the past twelve years where he has directed many productions including The Railway Children. Previously he worked for various regional theatres as a freelance director including The Tron and TAG. He was Associate Director for Hull Truck in the early ‘90s and prior to that Co-Artistic Director of the Liverpool Everyman Youth Theatre.
Jenny King, Producer, said: "Edith Nesbit's classic, The Railway Children, has captured the imagination of generations of children and adults alike. We are delighted to be bringing this unique production to an exciting new performance space in the heart of Waterloo Station where audiences will be able to experience this timeless classic first hand. We are delighted to be working with Welcome to Yorkshire on bringing the production from Yorkshire to London, as well our many other partners here in London."
Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: "This is a wonderful, innovative and exciting interpretation of The Railway Children that has wowed audiences in York. I am sure London theatre-goers and tourists to the capital will be captivated by the production in the new Welcome to Yorkshire Theatre on Waterloo station and having seen the production it will whet their appetite to visit Yorkshire and see where the film was originally shot. We are delighted to be playing our part in taking The Railway Children to London."
Sue Dalton, Cultural Planning Manager at the National Railway Museum, said: "The Railway Children has always been one of our proudest achievements. It was a big hit for two years running, and now we're delighted to see it being produced in London. We're thrilled that our locomotive, Stirling Single, will be used once again to wow the crowds in this production."
The Touring Consortium, led by Producer Jenny King with an Artistic Panel comprising Annabel Arden, Matthew Kelly,
Bryony Lavery and Don Warrington, is dedicated to satisfying a venue driven need for quality drama tailored to large theatre venues. Having recently been awarded a National Touring Contract by the
Arts Council England, The Touring Consortium and a group of UK theatres annually co-produce large-scale dramas which tours England, Scotland and Wales, supported by high quality curriculum-based education work.
To celebrate its 40th Anniversary Optimum Releasing have restored
Lionel Jeffries' classic children's filmThe Railway Children and will be re-releasing it in cinemas on 2nd April and then on special edition DVD & blu-ray in May.
Performances Mondays and Wednesdays - Saturdays at 7.30pm
Thursdays and Saturdays matinees at 2.30pm matinees
Sundays at 1.00pm and 5.00pm
Nb 5pm performance on 4 July
Tickets £20.50 - £45.50, plus concessions
Including £1 donation to Railway Children Charity
Website
www.railwaychildrenwaterloo.com
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