Casting announced for musical adaptation of The Railway Children

Casting has been announced for a concert staging of Alex Parker and Katie Lam's musical adaptation of E. Nesbit's The Railway Children.

The musical will receive its premiere in a concert reading at the Holy Trinity Church in Guildford on 2nd September 2016.

Gina Beck (Show Boat/Wicked) will lead the cast as Bobbie with Deborah Crowe as Mother, David Birrell as Father, Edd Campbell Bird as Peter, Lauren Morris as Phyllis, Daniel Crossley as Mr Schpansky, Paul Baker as Mr Perks, Maggie Service as Mrs Perks, Jonathan Dudley as Jim, Jack Chissick as Old Gentleman and Jack McCann as Mr Connolly.

The Railway Children extends to January 2017

Mike Kenny’s stage adaptation of E. Nesbit’s novel The Railway Children has extended its run at the King's Cross Theatre to 8th January 2017, with new tickets released today (20th April).

The Railway Children opened at King’s Cross Theatre on 14th January 2015, following previews from 16th December 2014. The show, which currently plays in REP with In The Heights, will celebrate its 2nd Anniversary on 16th December 2016.

The cast of The Railway Children currently includes Martin Barass as Mr Perks, Suzy Cooper as Mother, Sophie Ablett as Bobbie, Matt Jessup as Peter, Beth Lilly as Phyllis, Lindsay Allen as Mrs Perks, Peter Gardiner as Doctor/Butler, Connie Hyde as Mrs Viney, Shaun McCourt as Jim, Blair Plant as Father/Schepansky and Moray Treadwell as the Old Gentleman. Adam Collier, Helen Brampton, Alan Drake and Julie Gilby complete the cast. The children’s ensemble is made up of four teams of ten children aged between 8 and 16.

The Railway Children announces cast changes

From 27th April, Martin Barrass will return to the role of Mr Perks in The Railway Children. 

Also joining the cast are Shaun McCourt (pictured) as Jim and Adam Collier, Alan Drake and Julie Gilby. In addition, Suzy Cooper has joined the cast as Mother.

Continuing in their roles are Sophie Ablett as Bobbie, Matt Jessup as Peter, Beth Lilly as Phyllis, Lindsay Allen as Mrs Perks, Peter Gardiner as Doctor/Butler, Connie Hyde as Mrs Viney, Blair Plant as Father/Schepansky, Moray Treadwell as the Old Gentleman and Helen Brampton in the ensemble. The children’s ensemble is made up of four teams of ten children aged between 8 and 16.

The Railway Children extends booking to October 2016

The Railway Children has extended its run at the King’s Cross Theatre for a fourth time!

The play will now run until 30th October 2016, with tickets on sale from tomorrow (5th February). Mike Kenny’s stage adaptation of E. Nesbit’s novel began performances at the King’s Cross Theatre in December 2014.

The play's current cast includes Shaun Williamson as Mr Perks, Caroline Harker as Mother, Sophie Ablett as Bobbie, Matt Jessup as Peter, Beth Lilly as Phyllis, Lindsay Allen as Mrs Perks, Peter Gardiner as Doctor/Butler, Mark Hawkins as Jim/District Super, Connie Hyde as Mrs Viney, Blair Plant as Father/Schepansky and Moray Treadwell as the Old Gentleman. 

The Railway Children announces new cast

The Railway Children at the King's Cross Theatre has announced its new cast.

Shaun Williamson (EastEnders/Anything Goes) will take over as Mr Perks in Mike Kenny’s stage adaptation of E. Nesbit’s novel from Saturday 16th January 2016. 

Also joining the cast will be Sophie Ablett as Bobbie, Beth Lilly as Phyllis, Matt Jessup as Peter and Lindsay Allen as Mrs Perks. 

They join Caroline Harker as Mother, Peter Gardiner as Doctor/Butler, Mark Hawkins as Jim/District Super, Connie Hyde as Mrs Viney, Blair Plant as Father/Schepansky and Moray Treadwell as the Old Gentleman, as well as Helen Brampton, Rebecca Brierley, Timothy George and Daniel Griffin, plus a children’s ensemble made up of three teams of ten children aged between 9 and 15.

Martin Barrass returning to The Railway Children

Martin Barrass will star as Mr Perks in Mike Kenny’s stage adaptation of E. Nesbit’s novel The Railway Children.

Barrass joins the show from 17th October 2015. The Railway Children runs at the King's Cross Theatre until 3rd January 2016.

Barrass first played Mr Perks in the 2009 production at the York Theatre Royal where he revived the role earlier this year to critical acclaim. 

In 2012, he appeared in the National Theatre’s production of One Man Two Guvnors as Alfie at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. He has appeared in numerous television series, including Mike Conrad in Emmerdale and Ron Frost in Angels.

The Railway Children extends run at the King’s Cross Theatre

The Railway Children has extended its run at the King’s Cross Theatre to Sunday 3rd January 2016. 

Originally planned to close on 6th September 2015, Mike Kenny’s stage adaptation of E. Nesbit’s novel will run for an extra four months due to popular demand. Tickets for the new booking period go on sale at 10am on Friday 10th July 2015.

Andrew Dunn takes over as Mr Perks in The Railway Children

Andrew Dunn will take over as Mr Perks in Mike Kenny’s stage adaptation of E. Nesbit’s novel The Railway Children from tomorrow (24th June 2015).

Dunn recently played Gerald in the UK tour of The Full Monty. His theatre credits also include: The Price of Everything (Scarborough), Kay Mellor's A Passionate Woman (Hull) and Art and Brassed Off (both at Theatre Royal, York).

On screen, Dunn played Roger Stiles in Coronation Street between 2007 and 2008 and has made appearances in Victoria Wood’s Dinnerladies, Bremner and Bird and Fortune.

Sean Hughes joins cast of The Railway Children

It has been announced that actor and comedian Sean Hughes will play Mr Perks in Mike Kenny’s stage adaptation of The Railway Children from Tuesday 17th March. 

The show, which opened at the King’s Cross Theatre in January, is currently booking to 6th September 2015. Directed by Damian Cruden, The Railway Children has design by Joanna Scotcher, lighting by Richard G. Jones, music by Christopher Madin and sound by Craig Vear.

The cast also includes: Caroline Harker as Mother, Louise Calf as Phyllis, Clare Corbett as Mrs Perks, Jack Hardwick as Peter, Mark Hawkins as Jim/District Super, Connie Hyde as Mrs Viney, Andrew Loudon as Father/Doctor, Serena Manteghi as Bobbie, Blair Plant as Schepansky and Moray Treadwell as the Old Gentleman. 

Interview: Caroline Harker, starring in The Railway Children

Croline Harker is currently starring as Mother in the London revival of The Railway Children at the brand new King’s Cross Theatre. Caroline created the role in the play’s original run at Waterloo Station in 2010. 

The Railway Children is currently in previews ahead of its official opening on Wednesday 14th January 2015 and its run was recently extended to 6th September 2015. 

The York Theatre Royal production, which is in association with the National Railway Museum, once again features a live steam locomotive and a vintage carriage, originally built in 1896.

Caroline’s theatre credits include: Blithe Spirit (York Theatre Royal), Pride And Prejudice (Regent’s Park), The Village Bike (Sheffield Crucible), Tusk Tusk, The Strip and The Editing Process (all Royal Court), All Mouth (Menier), Entertaining Angels (Chichester/UK Tour), Present Laughter (UK Tour), Battle Royal (National), Falling (Hampstead), Things We Do For Love (Duchess) and Hidden Laughter (West End).

I recently spoke to Caroline about why she is reprising her performance in The Railway Children, the secret to the production’s success and what it has been like to rediscover the show…

When you found out The Railway Children was returning did you immediately jump at the chance to do it again?

Straight away I said “yes” because I had just done a play with Damian (Cruden) who is directing and also directed it before – I did Blithe Spirit with him in York. I love working with Damian so much that I had no hesitation. I know that’s odd because some people think they must never go backwards. Last time was a pretty unusual and special experience; site-specific theatre can be quite tough. At Waterloo there were lots of challenges, it wasn’t theatre as you know it and it was hard but I remember it so happily. It was a very good and rewarding time! It’s so nice to do something that you know the audience are enjoying!

Sneak peek at... London revival of The Railway Children

Production images have been released for the London revival of The Railway Children. Check out the pictures below (click image to enlarge). The York Theatre Royal production, which is in association with the National Railway Museum, once again features a live steam locomotive and a vintage carriage, originally built in 1896.

The Railway Children, which is currently in previews, recently extended its run at the King’s Cross Theatre until 6th September 2015. The production stars Jeremy Swift (Spratt in Downton Abbey) and original cast member Caroline Harker (click here for further casting). 

The Railway Children extends run at King’s Cross Theatre

It has been announced that The Railway Children has extended its run at the King’s Cross Theatre until 6th September 2015. The production begins performances tonight (16th December). Tickets for the new booking period are on sale from 19th December.

The revival stars Jeremy Swift (Spratt in Downton Abbey) and original cast member Caroline Harker (click here for further casting). The York Theatre Royal production, which is in association with the National Railway Museum, once again features a live steam locomotive and a vintage carriage, originally built in 1896.

Photo Feature: Cast of The Railway Children in rehearsals

Images of the cast of The Railway Children in rehearsals have been released. Check out the pictures below (click image to enlarge).

The revival stars Jeremy Swift (Spratt in Downton Abbey) and original cast member Caroline Harker (click here for further casting). Mike Kenny’s stage adaptation of The Railway Children by E. Nesbit returns to London later this month at its new home, the King’s Cross Theatre. 

First casting announced for The Railway Children

Jeremy Swift (Spratt in Downton Abbey) will play Mr Perks and original cast member Caroline Harker will recreate her portrayal of Mother in the upcoming revival of Mike Kenny’s stage adaptation of The Railway Children by E. Nesbit. The production returns to London in December at its new home, the King’s Cross Theatre. 

Also in the cast will be Louise Calf as Phyllis, Clare Corbett as Mrs Perks, Jack Hardwick as Peter, Mark Hawkins as Jim/District Super, Connie Hyde as Mrs Viney, Andrew Loudon as Father/Doctor, Serena Manteghi as Bobbie, Blair Plant as Schepansky and Moray Treadwell as the Old Gentleman, plus a children’s ensemble made up of four teams of ten children aged between 9 and 15.

The Railway Children returns to London at new theatre in King’s Cross

It has been announced that Mike Kenny’s stage adaptation of E. Nesbit’s novel The Railway Children will return to London in December. The production will move to a new home, the King’s Cross Theatre.

The  purpose built 1,000-seat theatre will be complete with a railway track and platforms as well as a state of the art heating system.

The site, on King’s Boulevard (behind King’s Cross Station), has been loaned to the production by Google who own the land. The York Theatre Royal production, which is in association with the National Railway Museum, will once again feature a live 60-tonne steam locomotive and Gentleman’s Carriage.