Famously filmed, this story of a prosperous Edwardian family – mother and three children – forced into near-penury in the rural north of England captures the anxieties and exhilarations of childhood with great tenderness and insight.

A major success in London, this fresh adaptation of the classic novel features a specially built life-size steam engine.

Aurora Park plays Bobbie, eldest of the siblings. Aurora’s previous roles with FYT include Alice in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Mole in The Wind in the Willows. Ethan Weir-Preston plays Peter. Ethan recently played Fat Sam in A590 Theatre Group’s Bugsy Malone, and was Gollum in FYT’s The Hobbit.

Jessica Bailey plays the youngest sibling Phyllis. Jessica was Kili the dwarf in FYT’s The Hobbit. Jade Hird plays the children’s mother. Jade’s many credits for FYT include the Mock Turtle in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Toad in The Wind in the Willows, and Tootles in Peter Pan. Will Buckley plays the station porter Perks, his previous roles for FYT including Badger in The Wind in the Willows.

Playwright Mike Kenny is one of Britain’s leading children’s playwrights, and was included in the Independent on Sunday’s list of Top Ten Living UK Playwrights. His adaptation of E. Nesbit’s The Railway Children won an Olivier award for Best Entertainment and has toured worldwide.

Director Chris Loveless trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. His productions have played in London’s West End, the regions, and New York, with several named critics’ choice by Time Out and the Evening Standard. Locally, Chris has directed many productions for Furness Youth Theatre and its predecessor ACT Youth Theatre.

Press Quotes for The Railway Children
‘lavish, warm-hearted… one of the very finest children’s stories of the 20th century, and it is served superbly by Mike Kenny’s adaptation’
Whatsonstage.com

‘this glorious adaptation… profoundly moving… it never for a moment runs out of steam’
Guardian

‘Mike Kenny’s script provides everything needed for a cracking evening at the theatre.’
Amateur Stage

‘Mike Kenny’s adaptation shows his mastery of playwriting for children and families… adults and children alike are enthralled by the clever mix of imagination and reality’
Financial Times

The Forum, 28 Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria  LA14 1HH

Tickets £9 full and £7 concessions

For group bookings of ten or more at one performance, each ticket £5 – available from Liz Loveless on 01229 585433

Box Office: 01229 820000  Book online at www.theforumbarrow.co.uk