The Railway Children

Synopsis

When father mysteriously disappears at Christmas, Roberta, Peter and Phyllis leave London for a new life in the Kent countryside. Discovering a railway at the end of the garden is just the first step to many adventures!

Our Review:

Michael Coveney - 13 July 2010

The abandoned Eurostar platforms at Waterloo Station have been imaginatively appropriated for Damian Cruden’s acclaimed Theatre Royal, York, production of E Nesbit’s famous story The Railway Children, first seen at the National Railway Museum in York two years ago.

It’s an engaging and occasionally thrilling occasion – especially when the gleaming green locomotive puffs into view along the railway tracks – but there are a few narrative loose ends: how exactly is the children’s father sprung from prison after serving time as a suspected spy? And how does the boy who breaks his leg in the tunnel not get killed by the rushing train?

There’s a lack of real charm, too, in the acting, despite the best efforts of Sarah Quintrell to challenge a still prevalent national crush on Jenny Agutter in the role of the elder daughter in the 1970 movie; Marshall Lancaster to provide his own chirpiness, and chippiness, as the...

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Latest User Review

Abi Jarvis - 7 February 2011:

I really liked the setting of the play; I find older setting more interesting and unpredictable. When we were sat down I noticed the minimal prop usage, they’d use luggage as tables, movable stages as the train and created a tunnel effect only using curtains and dim lighting; it was very well done. When the play was coming up to half time, at this point the children were trying to stop the train, I was expecting the movable plat form again but coming onto the stage was a real train with carriages too, it was amazing! The acting they used was very good, you could see the change in voice and posture quite clearly when the children (main characters) changed in to adults and back again. The story line was interesting but predictable, everyone knew the father would come back, but it was nice to see it too. One of the things I liked the most was the children’s antics throughout the play, very funny. I would recommend this play to anyone who likes family viewing....

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