OPERA SEARCH
The Railway Children
(2023)Rachael Hewer, after a novel by E.Nesbit (E)
Major roles: 2S.2M.2T.2Bar; minor roles: M.T.2Bar;SSAATTBB chorus
1.1(=corA).2(=bcl).1(=dbn)-1.1.1.0-perc-harp-pft(=cel)-str(1.0.1.2.1)
Abbreviations (PDF)
Boosey & Hawkes
Glyndebourne
Stephen Langridge, director
Conductor: Tim Anderson
Company: Glyndebourne Opera
| David: Father of the three children / Mr Tarpolski | Baritone |
| Cathy: Mother of the three children | Mezzo-Soprano |
| Yolanda | Mezzo-Soprano |
| Bobbie: eldest child, 12 years old | Soprano |
| Peter: middle child, 10 years old | Tenor |
| Phyllis: youngest child, 7 or 8 years old | Soprano |
| Sir Tommy Crawshaw | Baritone |
| Mr Perks: Station Master | Tenor |
| Passengers, Villagers | Chorus SSAATTBB |
| Detective Sergeant/ Train Driver (Chorus role) | Baritone 1 |
| Police Officer 1 (Chorus role) | Tenor |
| Police Radio (Chorus role) | Mezzo-Soprano |
| Police Radio 2 - PC Edmunds (Chorus role) | Baritone 2 |
Act I
Cathy and David raid a government office, searching for the missing evidence. David is caught by the police, but Cathy escapes. With the help of her friend Yolanda, Cathy takes her three children – Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis – to a house in the countryside where they will be safe until David’s release. The house is cold and dark, and the family has to get used to living without things they had before.
A policeman comes to ask Cathy some questions, so Bobbie takes Peter and Phyllis to the garden. While they explore their surroundings, they discover the railway. They wave at a train on its way to London and send their love to their Dad.
Cathy and Yolanda press on with the campaign. The children meet the Station Master, Mr Perks. He tells them all about Tommy Crawshaw – the man they have been waving to on the London train. Tommy is an ex-England footballer and a local legend. Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis make a sign and write a letter for Tommy to ask for his help. Tommy receives the letter and sends a parcel for Mr Perks to deliver to the house – along with money and a letter for Cathy.
Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis keep going to the railway to watch the trains. Cathy and Yolanda go to London for the day. Mr Perks finds a stranger on the platform and the children quickly learn that he is Russian. Cathy and Yolanda return from London, and help the stranger who recognises them.
Bobbie catches sight of a newspaper headline: their father has been found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison.
Act II
Bobbie, who has been looking after Peter and Phyllis while their mum is busy with the campaign, tries to hold everything together. She wants to know what their father has done wrong, but nobody tells the children anything. As a result, her imagination goes into overdrive and she fears the worst.
Cathy offers the Russian man – Mr Tarpolski – shelter in their home while he tries to find his family. Yolanda brings news of the campaign and Bobbie tries to entertain Peter and Phyllis who continue to argue over the smallest thing.
Mr Perks talks about the railway and how proud he is of his job. Tommy Crawshaw has an important update for the children about their father, and wants to deliver the news to them himself.
Bobbie finds it increasingly difficult to manage her squabbling siblings. Suddenly, a landslide collapses onto the railway tracks and the children must act fast to stop the next train from crashing into the debris.
Bobbie has a nightmare. She imagines her Dad talking to her, and relives the horror of the accident on the railway.
The three children are hailed as heroes and are presented with a special plaque on the railway bridge to commemorate their bravery.
Amongst the excitement and activity surrounding the celebration, the real traitor is revealed and arrested.
Courtesy of Rachael Hewer and Glyndebourne Productions