The Railway Children

Synopsis

A family moves from the city to the country when 'Father' is taken away and they are forced to fall back on their own resources. The children fall in love with the railway and befriend those that work on it. Many adventures follow but still the mystery remains - where is father?

Our Review:

24 July 2008

The story may be familiar and, perhaps, a mite sentimental for some tastes, there may be limited opportunities for great acting (though plenty for excellent ensemble playing), but York Theatre Royal’s brilliant staging of The Railway Children is a unique and delightful theatrical experience.

Director Damian Cruden has seized the opportunity to use the National Railway Museum with undisguised glee and unashamedly makes the railway the star of the show. The magnificent Victorian Stirling Single engine is trucked in in a haze of dry ice, with an elegant period carriage in tow. The audience sits along the length of two platforms, with authentically overhanging roofs, and follows the action as the various locations come and go along the track. Fifty local actors, in five teams of ten, play many parts, often as travellers; ushers in railway uniform or period dress and witty use of signage and advertisements re-create railway life circa 190...

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Latest User Review

Kev-in-york - 4 September 2009:

Superbly staged with the audience sitting each side of a railway track used to position various sets. This device was superbly integrated into the direction of the play and was seamless. The arrival of the steam engine at the end of the first act was only bettered by it's reappearance at the end of the second act with the addition of carriages behind it too. The cast were all excellent and if this production returns for a third year then you must go and see it. This is something the West End could never compete with. ...

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