As part of Avanti West Coast‘s Feel Good Field Trips scheme, Year 12 students St John Henry Newman College travelled to Glasgow to explore the King’s Theatre.
The rail operator teamed up with the theatre and production company Fiery Angel to allow the students an opportunity to see all aspects of putting on a play.
An exciting and educational programme included a tour of the theatre and opportunities to hear from some of the Fiery Angel production team about stage management, costume, sound and lighting.
Students also met with cast members of a recent production at the King’s Theatre, which was, of course, Murder on the Orient Express!
Actor Michael Maloney, who stars as Hercule Poirot in the production, alongside fellow cast members Simon Cotton, Christine Kavanagh and Beth Tuckey, chatted with students and gave them an insight into putting on a play.
The lucky students then watched a matinee performance of this stage version of Agatha Christie’s famous railway-based novel.
“It was incredibly rewarding to see the energy and enthusiasm from the young people during the session and a fantastic reminder of how impactful creative learning can be when it’s hands-on, inclusive, and fun.”
Alison Cowan, Creative Learning Manager at The King’s Theatre
Avanti West Coast worked with the King’s Theatre’s Creative Learning Team and Fiery Angel to arrange this unique field trip, combining train travel and live theatre.
It is just one of the initiatives of Avanti West Coast’s Feel Good Field Trips scheme, which helps young people aged between four and 18 gain opportunities which may not normally have been available to them.
The scheme brings activities from poetry and art workshops to curry-themed cookery days and Lake District adventures to up to 5,000 children.
Feel Good Field Trips have been held all over the Avanti West Coast network, from Liverpool to London, Manchester and Coventry, with train travel included in the package.
Avanti West Coast helped the St John Henry Newman College students to travel from Carlisle to Glasgow Central on a less murderous express than the one watched on stage!
Fiery Angel’s production of Murder on the Orient Express has now steamed out of Glasgow, but is touring the UK until Spring 2025.
“We loved working with the teams at The King’s and Murder on The Orient Express to bring the railway and arts together for this one-off learning opportunity. To offer something unique and tailored to the interests of the students has been great and we hope this experience will not only stay with them for the rest of their life but will inspire them to pursue their passions.”
Joanna Buckley, Community Manager at Avanti West Coast
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