The Railway Children

There is absolutely nothing ‘edgy’ about this show, but on its own refreshingly old-fashioned terms it succeeds. It oozes charm – and steam – as the wind challenges the cast by rattling the flimsy roof of the specially created theatre, a replica of the original London staging that used redundant platforms at Waterloo.

The long traverse playing area, with its deep central rail-containing trough, is ingenious. Small playing areas are manually pushed though it to suggest rooms, railway carriages and more. And the arrival of the famous real steam train is a satisfying theatrical moment. We never forget that this is a piece about trains, railways and the part they play in the life of an Edwardian family fractured by tragedy and transported to Yorkshire.

Serena Manteghi brings freshness and depth to Bobbie, Louise Calf is a funny, passionate Phyllis and Jack Hardwick is appropriately earnest as Peter. Although adults playing children can grate, it works well here. Jeremy Swift is strong as the kindly, gruff and proud Perks, and Caroline Harker finds both grace and anguish in the children’s mother.

Christopher Madin’s fine music evokes Edwardian England with a wide range of moods and a strong hint of George Butterworth.

This take on The Railway Children is high-quality family entertainment. The sentimentality is, fortunately, spiced with enough humour to prevent it being mawkish.

Verdict: Traditional storytelling with some accomplished acting and much technical ingenuity

Susan Elkin