All aboard for ghostly thriller

Six train passengers, stranded at a haunted railway station in Cornwall 100 years ago, is the setting for the Warkworth Theatre Group’s latest production, The Ghost Train. The action starts at 10pm on a very rainy evening when the stationmaster proceeds to tell the passengers a local yarn about a ghost train, in the hope of scaring them to leave. During the night, a disturbed woman arrives, trying to escape the clutches of her sister and a doctor, and the suspense builds as the arrival of the ghost train nears, along with a pending tragedy.

The play was written by Arnold Ridley, who is better known as Private Godfrey in the classic TV comedy Dad’s Army.

Director Richard Hutchinson says The Ghost Train is a classic comedy thriller with a mix of thrills, chills, laughter, surprises and ghostly goings-on.

This is Hutchinson’s second directing role with the Warkworth company, having directed Don’t Dress for Dinner last year.

“The Ghost Train has some exciting technical challenges for our backstage crew, with the old-fashioned set, moody lighting and many sound effects,” he says.

“There will be doors that open and close by themselves, a breaking window and a steam train, among other things.

“It’s been a real team effort to bring this one together with a cast of 11. Special thanks to Pat Habrle, as production manager, for coordinating the numerous backstage and front of house crew.”

The Ghost Train will play at the Warkworth