A children's classic from E.Nesbitt has been brought to life in the heart of Waterloo Station. This venture from director Damian Cruden has won an Olivier award for best entertainment and yet I still had my reservations. After all a play set on the tracks of the ole Eurostar station seemed a bit like a gimmick. These reservations however were immediately lifted.
The sixty tonne steam locomotive 'Sterling Single', which could easily be argued to be the star of the show, didn't apear until the end of the first half. Instead smoke and sound effects were used which gave the play a magical feel. The set is based around the track with large wooden blocks placed over the top of it, allowing plenty of movement. This mixed with the breaking of the fourth wall created a modern and interesting twist on a classic story.
One downside was that the actors were at first hard to connect with, being very similar to children's presenters in their acting. This seemed to work after a while and gave the play a strange sense of charm. Marcus Brigstocke's role as the station master 'Perks' allowed for comic relief from the main plot. His ease in the role showed and he was confident and enthralling to watch.
Although a show aimed at children and train lovers, I thorougly enjoyed this piece of the theatre and believe that it is worth a visit even if just to see how the reclaimed site works as a theatre.
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