IT’S full steam ahead for Huddersfield Thespians’ next production at the Lawrence Batley Theatre.
The Railway Children – specially adapted for the stage by Dave Simpson – retains all the sweetness, sentiment and humour of E Nesbit’s famous novel and the hugely popular film starring Jenny Agutter, Dinah Sheridan and Bernard Cribbins.
When their beloved father mysteriously disappears, Roberta, Peter and Phyllis have to leave their idyllic suburban lives in London for a small cottage in the country.
Desperately missing their father, the children seek solace in the nearby railway station, making friends with the stationmaster and their adventures begin.
Eventually, they are able to enlist the help of an ‘Old Gentleman’ who passes them each day on the 10.15 to resolve their predicament.
In the Huddersfield production, Claire Hayes plays Roberta, Jodie Harris plays Phyllis and Ben Holroyd is Peter.
Perks the stationmaster is played by Alistair Cheetham and his children by Jay Jone, Amelia Fielding, Lily Fielding and Charlotte Town.
The popular children’s novel by E Nesbit has been a family favourite since 1906 and went on to gain a special part in many people’s childhoods after the hit film in 1970.
Maria Sykes is the mother in the LBT production, which is directed by Nigel Town.
The Thespians are Huddersfield’s longest running and largest drama society and their staging of The Railway Children promises to bring out the child in everyone.
Nigel Town says: “This adaptation loses none of the original humour, adventure and triumph of naive good will over adversity of E Nesbit’s original story.
“It shows us so much about what we have gained and lost in 100 years.”
The play runs from next Tuesday (January 22) to Saturday. Performances are at 7.30pm each day and there is a matinee at 2.30pm on the Saturday.
Tickets are £9, £8 and £7 plus selected concessions.
Box office 01484 430528 or online at www.lbt-uk.org.
