Reviewed by Nancy Gladstone (aged) and Pascal Andriantahina (aged 5)

Grandpa’s Railway is a sweet and spell-binding proper play for children over 5. Lovely friendly performances by Grandpa Thomas Frere and Grandma Belinda Lazenby carried us through some dramatic tension as they faced up to the challenge of moving house. Whilst the set and the music held the attention of younger children, the story and use of language had enough depth for older children and indeed adults to get rather deeply involved in Grandpa’s and Grandma’s dilemma. Their argument (in front of the kids!) seemed impossible to resolve, so their emotions during the gently-handled conflict were genuinely moving, and the resolution very satisfying. 

The audience audibly gasped as the REAL model railway was slowly revealed in the opening scene. The best bits, according to Pascal, were the beautifully-lit dream sequences when the railway came alive with railway-rhythm music. This cleverly echoed the mood of the story - “Always on track, always on time” transformed to “We’re going to be late, we’re going to be late!”. Grandpa and Grandma’s oboe and ukulele interludes were a lovely way to break up the dialogue and keep everyone ‘on board’.

As well as the model railway, the extensive props included boxes and trunks full of toys of all shapes and sizes, blankets, ladders and, as Pascal pointed out excitedly, a real railway signal! Production Manager Joss Matzen is a hero for transporting and organising all this as this show tours the UK.

Pascal’s review: Good, Brilliant, Fantastic - Gooder and gooder - Nice railway!