About

Paperback Theatre Present:

The Railway Children

Written by E.Nesbit, adapted by Charis McRoberts

Saturday 18th July | 2.30pm

'Pay-what-you-decide' ticket scheme*: £20 Supporter | £15 Standard | £10 Subsidised

Running time (approx): 1 Hour 40 mins (inc. interval)

Suitable for: 7+

Location: The Manège Outdoor Arts Space, Bolton Gate Farm

Gates Open: 1.30pm

No Wifi. No Xbox. And water from a well?! This definitely isn't Brum.

Bobbie (that's me), Peter & Phyllis (ow! Stop pinching me) - I mean Phil - have been swept off to the English countryside by our Mom, who is suddenly far too busy to play with us.

Left to explore our new home, (if you can call it that), it's not long before the railway calls from the bottom of the garden. As we follow the tracks to the local station, we discover a whole new world full of strange characters, romance (stop retching, Peter), peril and questions that definitely need answering!

What to get Mr Perks for his birthday when we can't even afford sweets?

Why is the 08.11 always late?

Who is stealing from the abandoned coal yard at night time?

And where has Dad gone anyway?

Come join us as we tell our story, our way.

Fresh from their 2025 tour of The Wind in the Willows ("Fun, funny and utterly charming") and The Wizard of Oz (""Utterly entrancing. A great mix of charm and sophisticated wit" ) Paperback Theatre returns to tour the UK with a brand new adaptation of E. Nesbit's The Railway Children by Charis McRoberts.

"Thoroughly entertaining! Brilliantly funny, wholesome and great twists on classics!
Exactly what live theatre should be about!"

Feedback on previous shows.

Accessibility

If you require additional support at one of our shows/events, our amazing access steward, Emma, or one of our trained volunteer access assistants will be on hand to support you in any way they can. This could be anything from accessing The Manège Arts Space, support moving around the farm, guidance on the content of the shows. We also operate a relaxed theatre environment and have a breakout/quiet space available for those who might need it. This means guests are free to leave the production and move around the farm at any point should they need to.

If you require additional support please reach out to us by emailing arts@boltongatefarm.co.uk and we will be happy to assist you further.

The Manège Outdoor Arts Space is an undercover, versatile performance space that allows for a variety of configurations and means our audiences will be sheltered from adverse weather.

This event is 'bring-your-own-seating' so please bring your camping chairs, blankets, picnics and get comfy! We have additional seating for those who are unable to bring their own, so do not worry if you forget!

*At Bolton Gate Arts we know that experiencing the arts in the current climate can be tough. We aim to be an accessible arts space and want as many people as possible to enjoy our shows.

Our new 'pay-what-you-decide' ticket scheme gives YOU the power, allowing you to select the tickets that fit your budget, meaning you can now enjoy live theatre for just £10!

If you would like to contribute a little more, you can select the standard or supporter ticket option. We ask our guests to select the option that best meets their needs, all profits go back into the company to support more amazing art/events on the farm! Thank you!

Please be advised tickets for this event are non-refundable