Smoke, steam and the lonesome sound of a train whistle, prepare to have your levers pushed and nerves shredded by a haunting staging of Charles Dickens' nerve-tingling story.
Middle Ground Theatre Company Ltd brings an extended adaptation of their hugely successful production which last drew into Windsor 11 years, coupled with an M R James ghost story.
The theatre company has quite a playbook of productions but I can see why they’ve revisited this unnerving piece.
Set in 1880, the story sees a traveller venture down to a deep cutting to talk to a signalman. In the lamplight of the signal box, the two speak of the duties and wonder of the trains and the things that haunt them from the past.
The rational visitor (John Burton) tries to comfort the signalman (Chris Walker) as the latter reveals his visions of haunted by visions of disaster on his isolated stretch of line. The two well-known television actors are assured here in the main roles, while other characters are an innkeeper (Bruce Chattan), an inspector (James Morley) and traindriver Tom (Adam Mort).
The production really builds a world, the golden lamps of the wooden signalbox, the darkness outside, the uncanny sounds (created by White Tip Media) and some first-class technical effects. Without wanting to give too much away, you will hit the edge of your seat – a lot.
The set deserves an ovation and the programme notes reveal it was a real labour of love, designed by the show’s director Michael Lunney who visited railways and period signal boxes, engine houses and railway lines. The wonderful train tunnel – with tracks disappearing into the darkness – is inspired by two real tunnels in Worcestershire. It was built by the company’s master scenic carpenter Andy Martin and the tour is dedicated to his memory.
This week sees the 200th anniversary of the railways. Thank heaven for modern health and safety rules – and electric lights after a heart-stopping – and heartily recommended – night at this play.
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