Press Office
The Railway Children cast enjoy a steamy day out!
Cast members of the eagerly awaited new production of The Railway Children enjoyed a steamy day out on Friday as they got to grips with working with a real life steam locomotive in preparation for the opening of the region’s theatrical event of the year on the 18 July.
York Theatre Royal and the National Railway Museum (NRM) have joined forces to stage a magical new production of E Nesbit’s much loved children’s tale, The Railway Children. This must-see theatrical event will take place on a purpose built set at the NRM from 18 July to 23 August. The production, which has been penned by highly acclaimed children’s playwright Mike Kenny, will take place on a real rail track at the NRM, and will feature one of the biggest guest stars to ever take to the stage – Stirling Single, a 39 tonne steam locomotive built in 1870.
To gain some first hand experience of life on the footplate of a steam locomotive while being dressed in turn of the century clothing, the stars of the forthcoming show hitched a ride on a working steam locomotive at the North York Moors Railway.
Dan Bates, Chief Executive of York Theatre Royal, said:
“Being able to incorporate Stirling Single into The Railway Children is something that is not only going to be very exciting for the audience but also for our cast. Obviously none of them have ever worked with a steam locomotive before. We felt it was essential for them to become acclimatised to being around these splendid machines at an early stage so that they know what to expect in rehearsals and on the opening night.”
Meanwhile, lucky shoppers in York City Centre will be given free copies of the The Railway Children today as part of York’s Big Read. The Read Write York team selected the hugely popular children’s tale as its reading material of choice and is actively encouraging as many people as possible to get their hands on a copy. Two thousand copies of the book will be distributed to York residents via City of York Council-run libraries, York Theatre Royal and the NRM, and it is hoped that the majority of these will be handed out at the special launch event taking place in a mobile library in St. Sampson’s Square in the city centre.
The aim of the Big Read is to promote York as a centre for literature; help develop higher standards of literacy; to get more people reading and writing and to encourage learning about York and its railway heritage.
June 2008