WELL-known local theatre director Chris Loveless is back in the hot seat with a new version of a timeless tale.

Chris brings leading children's playwright Mike Kenny's Olivier award-winning adaptation of The Railway Children to The Forum, at Barrow, with a specially built life-size steam engine centre stage.

Chris directs the highly regarded Furness Youth Theatre's production of E Nesbit's classic novel, which tells of the mother and three children of a prosperous Edwardian family who following the disappearance of their father fall on hard times. Set in the rural north of England, the story captures the anxieties and exhilaration of childhood with great tenderness and insight.

The cast stars Aurora Park as Bobbie, the eldest of the siblings; Ethan Weir-Preston takes the role of Peter; Jessica Bailey plays the youngest child Phyllis and

playing the children’s mother is Jade Hird. Will Buckley plays station porter Perks.

Director Chris trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. His impressive CV includes productions in London's West End, the regions, and New York, with several named critics' choice by Time Out and the Evening Standard. Nearer to home, Chris has directed many shows for the highly thought of Furness Youth Theatre and its predecessor ACT Youth Theatre.

The Railway Children runs at The Forum from Thursday-Saturday, May 3-5.

Performances start at 7pm.

Box office 01229-820000 or book online at www.theforumbarrow.co.uk.