Damian Cruden's critically acclaimed production of The Railway Children today announces an extension to its run at Waterloo Station. Mike Kenny's new adaptation of E. Nesbit's novel which has been playing to packed houses since its opening earlier this week is now taking bookings to 2 January 2011.
The Railway Children tells the story of Bobby, Peter and Phyllis, three children whose lives change dramatically when their father is mysteriously taken away. They move from London to a cottage in rural Yorkshire with their mother where they befriend the local railway porter and embark on a magical journey of discovery, friendship and adventure. But the mystery remains - where is Father, and is he ever coming back?
The current cast comprises David Baron (The Old Gentleman), Nicholas Bishop (Peter), Louisa Clein (Phyllis), Caroline Harker (Mother), Elizabeth Keates (Mrs Perks), Steven Kynman (Jim), Marshall Lancaster (Mr Perks), Roger May (Father/Doctor), Blair Plant (Shepansky), Amanda Prior (Mrs Viney) and Sarah Quintrell (Roberta), who are joined by Grace Rowe and Mat Ruttle and children from Lambeth and Southwark.
The 1000 seat auditorium at Waterloo, created especially for this production, has been built with the audience seated either side of the original railway track, with action taking place both on the track and on the platforms either side. The Railway Children, which uses the old Gentleman's saloon carriage from the original classic film, also features Stirling Single, a period steam train from the National Railway Museum in York.
Directed by Damian Cruden, design by Joanna Scotcher, lighting by Richard G. Jones, with music by Christopher Madin and sound by Craig Vear, Mike Kenny's adaptation of The Railway Children was first produced by York Theatre Royal at the National Railway Museum, York, where it enjoyed two sell-out and critically acclaimed seasons in 2008 and 2009.
E. Nesbit's much loved children's book The Railway Children was first published in 1906 and has subsequently been adapted for the stage and screen, most famously in the 1970 film version directed by the late Lionel Jeffries and starring Jenny Agutter, Bernard Cribbins, Dinah Sheridan and Sally Thomsett.
The Railway Children, a York Theatre Royal production, is presented in London in association with the National Rail Museum by Jenny King and Matthew Gale for The Touring Consortium (Railway Children), Tristan Baker, Oliver Royds, PW Productions and Sue Scott Davison. The production has been made possible with the support of Welcome to Yorkshire, the official tourism agency for Yorkshire, BRB (Residuary) Ltd and Network Rail. The production is in support of the Railway Children Charity that aims to help homeless and runaway children throughout the world, with £1 per ticket sale donated to the charity.
The Railway Children is supported by Arts Council England.
T H E R A I L W A Y C H I L D R E N
Dates until 2 January 2010
The Waterloo Station Theatre, Waterloo Station, SE1
Box Office 0871 297 0740
Performances Mondays and Wednesdays - Saturdays at 7.30pm
Thursdays and Saturdays matinees at 2.30pm matinees
Sundays at 1.00pm and 5.00pm
Tickets £20.50 - £49.50, plus concessions
Including £1 donation to Railway Children Charity
Website www.railwaychildrenwaterloo.com
Photo Credit: Simon Annard
