15 Jul – 7 Sep 2025
The Railway Children
The classic production heads to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.
6.30pm (arrive at Keighley 4.10pm)
- Audio described
- BSL interpreted
- Wheelchair user access
- Relaxed environment
- Seating available
- Captioned
Revisit the much-loved children’s classic – on the very train tracks where the film was shot.
Mike Kenny’s enchanting stage adaptation of E. Nesbit’s classic novel has won thousands of admirers since it premiered in 2008. Now, for the first time, we’re taking this production for a ride along the iconic Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, familiar to millions from the film adaptation of The Railway Children.
Exclusively for Bradford 2025, the show begins when you board a steam train at Keighley, then travel the full length of this historic railway. When you reach the end of the line at Oxenhope, you’ll find a purpose-built auditorium within the station’s Engine Shed – and a new version of the production, which tells the story of three children forced to move from London to Yorkshire after their father is falsely imprisoned.
Getting there and FAQs
Your journey begins at Keighley Station. Find out how to get to Keighley Station and lots of other useful information on our Railway Children FAQs page.
Schools tickets
We’re offering special schools ticket rates to performances of The Railway Children on these dates:
16 July
17 July
18 July
3 September
4 September
5 September
To book tickets for a school group, please contact our Ticketing team on [email protected].
Creative team
Director
Damian Cruden
Set and Costume Designer
Jo Scotcher
Associate Costume Designer
Sian Thomas
Lighting Designer
Richard G Jones
Composer / Music Director
Christopher Madin
Sound Designer
Craig Vear
Young People’s Director
Nicolette Hobson
See full cast below.
Presented by Bradford 2025 and York Theatre Royal in partnership with the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.
Supported by London North Eastern Railway and The Shears Foundation.
Image by Guy Farrow.
Partners
Cast
Roberta
Peter
Phyllis
Mother
Father/Russian
Mr Perks
Mrs Perks
Old Gentleman
Mrs Viney
Doctor/Butler
Jim/District Superintendent
Between Maid
Butler, Covering artist + Ensemble
Covering artist + Ensemble
Access
Join our access scheme to view access tickets or contact our Ticketing team for more information.Sign up →
Sign up to our Access Scheme at www.bradford2025.co.uk/accessibility to view our access tickets or contact our Ticketing team for further assistance.
Get in touch: www.bradford2025.co.uk/contact
Audio described
Audio description will be available at several performances within this production run – with specific dates identifiable within the ticket booking process.
BSL interpreted
British Sign Language interpretation will be available at several performances within this production run – with specific dates identifiable within the ticket booking process.
Captioned
Captions will be delivered to your smartphone via The Difference Engine. You will need to download an app to your phone, and we can help you with that.
If you don’t have a smart phone, there will be devices you can borrow, so please let us know when you book if you’ll need one.
Wheelchair accessible
There will be six wheelchair accessible seats to book for each performance, and the venue has an accessible toilet and is wheelchair accessible – although access into the venue is along a gently sloped, cobbled street.
Wheelchair users can board the train via a small ramp. Our Ticketing team will reach out to you in advance to confirm your reserved space on the train or assist with any Blue Badge parking arrangements you may need.
Visual story
A visual story for this experience will be available for those who need it before the first performance. It will cover getting to the venue, the experience at Oxenhope station, the performance and the return journey.
Blue badge parking
There will be blue badge parking available at both stations. This is limited per performance and cannot be guaranteed for all bookers. Please contact our Ticketing team on [email protected] for more details.
Relaxed performance
Our relaxed performances of The Railway Children will welcome audiences who may appreciate a more casual approach than traditional theatre experiences. This could include parents or carers who are bringing a babies or younger children who might make sounds or need to move around during the performance, or anyone with additional sensory needs. Audiences are welcome to go out at and re-enter the auditorium any time they need. There are no specific changes made to the show but these performance may make some adjustments to light, sound and effect levels to create a calmer environment.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs are welcome on the trains and in the performance space, but please advise us of your needs at the time of booking.
Tickets
15 Jul – 7 Sep 2025
