Educators
Platform 4 Theatre
Developed and delivered by the National Railway Museum’s resident drama group ‘Platform 4 Theatre’, the Learning Team offer a range of curriculum related performances for Key Stage 2 and 3.
Tuesday Theatre – Drama Performances
These free one-person performances last about 30 minutes and are available to book on the following dates:
November 2008: 4, 11, 18 and 25
January 2009: 13, 20 and 27
February 2009: 3
March 2009: 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31
April 2009: 21 and 28
May 2009: 19
June 2009: 9, 16, 23 and 30
The performances take place at 10.30, 11.45, 12.45 and 13.30.
Maximum group size: 35 children.
The performances available are:
Is Your Journey Really Necessary? World War II
A railway porter at York railway station sets the scene…it’s1945, WWII has ended. The performance explores: blackout; disruption to family life; evacuees; Prime Minister Winston Churchill; the role of the railways; rationing and going home after the war. Serious issues are explored and there are some very poignant scenes involving evacuees and the victims of the 1942 bombing raid on York.
Watch a preview of Is Your Journey Really Necessary
and
The Newcastle Rocket Industrial Revolution/Famous People
In the 1810s, wagon-way worker James Hewitt worked at Leeds but was soon to move on to bigger things. Find out about his experiences of the Stockton-Darlington line, George Stephenson, the Liverpool-Manchester Railway, and the triumph of ‘Rocket’ at the Rainhill trials in 1829. He witnessed an Industrial Revolution that changed travel and put Great Britain on top of the world!
Watch a preview of The Newcastle Rocket
To Book Tuesday Theatre – Drama Performances
To book the drama performances please contact the Learning Administrator:
Telephone 01904 686230
Facsimile 01904 685786
Email school.bookings@nrm.org.uk
Or write to the
Learning Administrator,
National Railway Museum,
Leeman Road,
York,
YO26 4XJ
Platform 4 Theatre Drama Workshops
Also available are the Platform 4 Theatre drama workshops, written by playwright Chris Ford. These comprise the performance followed by an interactive drama workshop (approx. 40 minutes), which explore some of the issues raised within the performances through techniques such as hot seating, tableaux and role-play.
These must be pre-booked well in advance, and cost £55 per group. Maximum group size: 35 children. Payment must be received a minimum of one week before.
The Workshops can be booked for 10.30, 11.45 or 13.30.
To Book Platform 4 Theatre Drama Workshops
Please contact the Learning Administrator (details above) to discuss dates. The precise Workshop will depend on the availability of the actors on a given date but choices include ‘Is Your Journey Really Necessary?’ and ‘Stephensons’ Rocket’ as detailed above, plus the following:
Other performances
‘V’ for Victory World War II
Alice worked on the railways in WWII, one of the thousands of women that stood in for men who had been sent off to war. How did she adapt to what had always been largely a man’s world of work? How did she feel when she had to leave the job she came to love once the war was over? How did it feel for the men returning from war to discover that their job had been taken over whilst they’ve been away?
Watch a preview of 'V' is for Victory
Royalty on Rails World War II/Famous People
A guard on the Royal train during WWII tells children how the Royal family were transported around the country to help keep morale high in such difficult times.
He reveals secrets about why they parked the Royal train near tunnels overnight and why there is a red line painted inside the Royal bathtub. Remember, though ... careless talk costs lives! Sshhh…Mum’s the word!!
Watch a preview of Royality on Rails
Mak All t’ Railways Cum t’ York York Locality/Famous People
George Hudson…one of York’s most famous sons. In the 1840s he rose to fame and fortune by investing in the railways. A powerful man, he ruled over approximately one third of all railways in England, but his dealings were called into doubt and he fell from grace, dying in poverty. The children invest their chocolate gold coins in Mr Hudson’s schemes. Some will be winners and some will lose everything!
Watch a preview Mak All t' Railways Cum t' York
From the Pen of Fanny Kemble Industrial Revolution/Travelling
Fanny Kemble was a famous Georgian actress... a true celebrity of her time. She recalls her memories of horse-drawn wagon-ways and her experience of riding on ‘Rocket’ at the opening of the Liverpool-Manchester Railway. Her diaries and letters give one of the few first-hand accounts of what actually happened in September 1830…the day that changed travel forever and made Britain the world leader in the Industrial Revolution.
Watch a preview of From the Pen of Fanny Kemble
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View the current calendar of Platform 4 public performances