MEMBERS of Wantage Stage Musical Company are on track for another success with their latest production.

They will stage the musical version of author Edith Nesbitt’s classic tale, The Railway Children, in the town from Wednesday to Saturday, May 11 to 14.

Directing the production of The Railway Children Musical are Rob Thorpe and Sarah Carter in their second collaboration for the company.

Nesbitt’s story tells how three children, Bobbie, Phylliss and Peter, are forced to leave their comfortable life in London and move to the country after their father, who works at the Foreign Office, is falsely accused of selling state secrets to the Russians.

They discover a railway near their new home, and so begins a series of adventures over one long summer. They become friendly with Albert Perks, the station porter, and an Old Gentleman who regularly takes the 9.15 down train.

Rob, who is also WSMC chairman, said: “We chose to stage The Railway Children because it’s a great story and very familiar. It won’t fail to pull on the heart strings of all who see it.

“I think just about everybody has seen the film, which is on television every Christmas and brings a tear to many eyes. The show is fastened together with great characters and some wonderful music, from heartfelt ballads to stirring chorus numbers.”

The three siblings are portrayed by Jessica Dancy as Bobbie, Sarah Fell as Phyllis and Seb Allum as Peter.

Seb, from Faringdon, and Sian Millet, of Grove, who plays the children’s mother, are both making their debuts for the company, although neither are strangers to the stage.

Andy Thomas takes the role of Perks, whose character draws the story together, and Mike Davies plays the children’s father.

Joint directors Rob and Sarah said: “After the great success of our concert, A Few of our Favourite Sings, we are delighted to be directing this show. We have a talented and dedicated cast who are working hard in rehearsals. We can’t wait to get it on stage.”

The cast is completed by Michael Hurd, Katie Hamblin, Charlotte Middlebrook, Christina McQuirk, Chaz Hart, Martin Perry, Beryl Leeds, Nancy Becker, Chris Jones, Jenny Telling, Peter McGowen and Suzanne Parrot.

The show will be at the King Alfred’s Specialist Sports College’s Centre Site in Portway at 7.30pm nightly. The Wednesday night show will be a charity preview night, with tickets only available on the door and money going to breast cancer charities.

For the other performances, tickets are available from the Vale and Downland Museum, Wantage; Bretts Chemist, Grove; or at www.wantagestagemusical.co.uk