Yorkshire Centre Stage for Railway Children
Published: June 29 2011
The Olivier-award winning production of The Railway Children steamed into London Waterloo to a standing ovation after wowing audiences worldwide.
The original York Theatre Royal production returns to the Welcome to Yorkshire Theatre with a new cast following last year's critically acclaimed summer season and hopes are high for a positive impact on Yorkshire's tourism industry.
This year's show will feature comedian Marcus Brigstocke as Perks the station-master (pictured) alongside the undoubted star of the show the steam locomotive Stirling Single, on loan from York's National Railway Museum.
Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: "This wonderful show has captured the hearts of audiences across the world and we hope to capitalise on its second run in London by tempting more theatre goers to visit the spiritual home of The Railway Children - Yorkshire.
"Yorkshire is as much a part of the play as the famous line 'Daddy, my daddy!' 165,000 people saw the production last year and judging by the reaction it has received from its sell out worldwide tour we are confident Yorkshire will benefit from the show's second stint in the capital."
Yorkshire.com has received 250,000 hits on its dedicated Railway Children page such has been the interest in the show since the play opened last summer. Research among those who attended revealed that 20% said they are very likely to visit Yorkshire as a result of seeing the show.
Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, location for the iconic 1970s film, has already seen an upsurge in visitor numbers which they attributed to the play's high profile run in London last year and the 40th anniversary of the release of the film.
The new show will run until 4 September.
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Editors' Notes:
- Welcome to Yorkshire is the official destination management organisation for Yorkshire, working to grow the county's visitor economy.
- Welcome to Yorkshire is funded by Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency charged with improving the Yorkshire and Humber economy.
- Key facts include:
- Tourism in Yorkshire is worth £7 billion annually
- The county's industry employs almost a quarter of a million people
- There are 216 million visits to Yorkshire each year
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Jo Francisco - Press Officer
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