Starlight Express

Synopsis

The theatre is completely transformed as Rusty (the shy steam engine) races against Greaseball (the flashy diesel locomotive) to win the love of the most beautiful carriage in town, Pearl. Fuses state of the art technology, electrifying songs and music,dazzling sets and costumes. Two hours of speed, spectacle, excitement and energy!

Our Review:

Jane Blagden - 14 November 2012

Andrew Lloyd Webber's dazzling psychedelic rock'n'roller musical glides into Sunderland to let off some steam for a fortnight.

With a loose plot premise of a young boy's idea of what his train set gets up to overnight, Rusty (Kristofer Harding) the steam train underdog, must compete against the muscle of diesel powered (and Elvis-esque) Greaseball (Jamie Capewell) and new boy on the track, the electric-charged Electra (Mykal Rand), to "pull" Pearl (Amanda Coutts), the first class coach, in a race to be the fastest train.

A story with not much gravitas is made up with amble amounts of colour, pyrotechnics and costumes that resemble somewhere between Transformer and a Power Rangers. The "rolling stock" of support cast displays some impressive moves on their skates with seamless direction and poise.

The non-stop musical numbers feature some highlights including “Poppa’s Blues” and “U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D”. Some trains seem to sit wi...

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Latest User Review

Janet - 27 December 2012:

Went to see Starlight Express on Boxing Day 2012. A very exciting show from the beginning to the end. Thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it....

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