Casting Call: The Railway Children – Community Ensemble

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, York Theatre Royal and Bradford 2025 are taking this production for a ride along the iconic Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, familiar to millions from the film adaptation of The Railway Children.

The show will begin when you board a steam train at Keighley Station, then travel the full length of the historic Worth Valley 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.

This is a callout for a community ensemble cast to be part of an exciting production for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Please note this is not an audition to play the lead roles in The Railway Children but to join a community ensemble cast supporting the production.

No, this is a participation opportunity and not a paid role.

This opportunity is open to participants aged between 8 and 15 years who are based locally.

We are casting 30 young people overall, who will perform in three groups of 10 people. Groups will take turns to perform during the run of the production so will not be needed every day.

No, this opportunity is open to any young people who wish to audition. You can have some acting experience or never have acted, performed or even tried drama before. We are looking for enthusiasm, a willingness to take part and the confidence to perform in front of an audience of 500 people! You need to be comfortable working with others and being away from your parent or guardian for up to 5 hours at a time. Young people will need to be available for all the rehearsal dates (May to July) and have good availability during the performance period (16 July to 7 September).

Bradford 2025 is committed to making all our opportunities as accessible as possible. Due to the nature of the performances being at a working train station, there are some limitations due to health and safely implications. For example, there may be an opportunity for one wheelchair user to take part per group. Please ensure you complete the section of the application form that asks about access needs, and we will aim to support this.

Auditions will take place on the following dates and locations within the Bradford District:

• Saturday 22 March, at Victoria Hall, Keighley
  There will be four time slots on this date:
  10am – 11am
  11.30am – 12.30pm
  1.30pm – 2.30pm
  3pm – 4pm
• Saturday 5 April, at Kala Sangham, Bradford City Centre
  There will be four time slots on this date:
  10am – 11am
  11.30am – 12.30pm
  1.30pm – 2.30pm
  3pm – 4pm
• Saturday 26 April, at Woodside Village Centre, Woodside
  There will be four time slots on this date:
  11am – 12pm
  1pm – 2pm
  2.30pm – 3.30pm
  4pm – 5pm

To audition, you must be able to attend one of the above dates. The two dates in March fall within Ramadan, and we know some applicants may not want or be able to attend auditions during this time. You can select the dates you’re available on your application, and we will endeavour to make adaptations so as many young people can audition as possible.

Auditions will be a fun, one-hour session involving group work and theatre games. You are not expected to prepare anything.

No, everyone who applies is not guaranteed an audition. Priority will be given to applicants based in the Bradford Metropolitan District. The district includes people living in the wards listed here. You can also find out which ward you live in by entering your address or postcode here. We will then select who gets an audition based on a broad geographical spread and your answers to the questions in the sign-up form (so we can learn more about you!).

No, a parent or guardian does not need to stay with you for the audition, but they will need to be contactable during that time. The directing team of the performance will run the auditions, supported by DBS-checked staff and a chaperone. Applicants aged 8 to 12 will need to be dropped off and picked up from the auditions. Applicants aged 13 to 15 are welcome to travel independently with permission from their guardian.

• Young person’s full name (aged 8-15)
• Young person’s date of birth
• On the next page, you will need to submit a passport style photograph of the young person applying.
• What is your full name?
  We want to make you aware that young people that are selected to be a part of The Railway Children may need to take some time off school for rehearsals in the final week of the summer term, before they break off for the summer holidays.
• Availability

More about you:

• Why are you interested in this opportunity?
• Are you comfortable to perform in front of an audience of 500 people?
• Please tell us about a time you’ve performed, or a performance you’ve enjoyed. This could be anything: you singing karaoke, telling us about a show you’ve seen or your favourite music video, or dancing in your living room.

You can submit your answers as text or as a video, and we recommend you plan these before you continue. If you’d like to submit in another format, please just email [email protected] and let us know!

If selected the first rehearsal will take place on Saturday 31 May. Rehearsals will then be on Wednesday evenings and Saturday daytimes from then until the start of the show. Young people will need to take some time off school in the final week of the summer term for rehearsals. Please make sure you can be available on Wednesday evenings and Saturday daytimes in June and July before applying.

If selected, you will need to be available for 3 to 4 performances a week for the show’s run, between 16th July and 7th September. These may be different performances each week. You will be sent a schedule with your dates on as soon as we have them.

Please note that the main cast have been recruited.

If you are selected to be part of the community ensemble, travel bursaries will be available for the performances. These will be discussed with parents and guardians as to what support you might need, We unfortunately cannot provide travel expenses for auditions, but we will be holding audition days in three different areas across Bradford District.

15 Rehearsals over Wednesdays and Saturdays, 2 dress rehearsals and then four shows a week during the period 16 July – 7 September 2025.

Once you have read and understood these FAQs, please complete the form below to apply for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

The deadline for applications is 10am, Monday 17 March.

You can contact the team at [email protected]