Casting revealed for immersive staging of The Railway Children

Cast members taking part in a unique staging of The Railway Children in Bradford have been revealed.

Based on the classic children’s book by E Nesbit, it follows three children who are forced to move from Edwardian London to rural Yorkshire, finding adventure and hope on the railway.

Audiences will begin by enjoying an immersive soundscape on a steam train ride from Keighley, before watching the performance in a purpose-built engine shed auditorium at Oxenhope station. The historic Keighley and Worth Valley Railway was used as a location for the much-loved 1970 film adaptation.

Director Damian Cruden revives the Olivier Award-winning stage adaptation by Mike Kenny, which was first seen at York’s National Railway Museum in 2008, and at London’s Waterloo station in 2010. It has been reworked for the 2025 UK City of Culture.

Playing the role of the children’s heroic Mother is Asha Kingsley. She is joined by Paul Hawkyard, who’ll take on the dual role of both the children’s imprisoned Father and the Russian political refugee Schepansky, who is taken in by the family when he arrives, lost and unwell, at the nearby station.

Farah Ashraf plays the eldest sibling, Roberta, Raj Digva plays Peter, and Jessica Kaur will play Phyllis.

Station master Mr Perks and his wife are played by real-life couple Graeme Hawley and Elianne Byrne, while the Old Gentleman is played by Moray Treadwell.

Completing the cast are Zoe Lambert (Mrs Viney), Chris Hannon (Doctor/Butler), Max Gallagher (Jim/District Superintendent) and Alice Proctor (Between Maid), as well as a Youth Ensemble.

The director commented: “Bringing The Railway Children to Bradford this year offered us a unique opportunity to restage the production as part of the UK City of Culture programme, starting on the tracks where the iconic 1970 film was shot in the beautiful Worth Valley.”

He added: “Bradford is a wonderful example of a city that has welcomed people throughout its history, and this theme of welcome and global connection resonates through The Railway Children, which at its heart is brilliant family entertainment – a classic adventure yarn with a famously emotional ending!”

The production, presented by York Theatre Royal and Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, runs across the summer holidays from 15 July to 7 September 2025.