Degree students across our Stage & Screen degree programmes including acting, production design, costume, textiles and model making have been working hard to contribute to Stockton and Darlington Passenger Railway Bicentenary events, which will take place this weekend Saturday 20th September in Darlington and next Sunday 28th September in Stockton.  The S&DR200 Festival’s epic outdoor event ‘Ghost Train’ will steam through Darlington and Stockton as part of a two-part outdoor performance, created and produced by Avanti Display Ltd and Walk the Plank.  The regional celebrations mark 200 years since the world’s first passenger railway journey and the festival aims for people to delve into the story of the railways and learn more about the impact passenger rail has had on the way the world has traded, travelled, and communicated.

Attendees at next Sunday’s event can expect an epic outdoor performance on Stockton Riverside at 7:30pm featuring a reimagining of Locomotion No. 1 and six illuminated carriages, the after-dark show includes a specially composed musical score by Sarah Llewellyn, live music, projection, and a community cast of national and local performers, including performance students and local volunteers from across Darlington and Stockton. It tells the human story of this industrial revolution and explores the impact it had on the region. The performance will combine storytelling, music, and physical theatre with fire, and pyrotechnic effects. The event will also bring a weeklong of anniversary events to a close with a spectacular finale.

Over the last year Avanti have been working with our students across five departments to work on projects for both locations:

• BA(Hons) Acting for Stage & Screen degree students will take centre stage across the 2 days of performance, portraying passengers and industry pioneers and occasionally donning huge hats which billow out plumes of smoke! 
• BA(Hons) Production Design for Stage & Screen students (renamed ‘Set Design’ as of Sept 2025) have constructed banqueting feast items and tableware for a central part of Sunday’s show.
• BA (Hons) Model Making and Visual FX students (renamed ‘Modelmaking and Props’ as of Sept 2025) have created model interpretations of ‘Locomotion No.1’ in suitcases, which are on display in the window of the Binns building, High Row, Darlington.
• Students from the BA(Hons) Textiles & Surface Design have produced large printed banners which adorn lamp-posts in Darlington as the procession goes by and on Stockton Riverside.
• Students studying BA(Hons) Costume Interpretation with Design have created period style costumes for the industry pioneers, developing a consistent and dramatic look for our acting students.  

model interpretations of ‘Locomotion No.1’ in suitcases from BA (Hons) Model Making

Head of Stage and Screen, Stuart Drummond, says of the project, “We are immensely proud to be able to be part of this celebration of a major contribution to the region and the world- the first passenger railway. Artists and creators at Avanti Display have been fully committed to working with our students to produce a whole variety of outcomes that will make the show something really special. We are a big fan of live, experiential, community and real world projects that give our students the opportunity to share and build on their skills and passions.”

S&DR200 is an international festival taking place from March to November 2025 inspired by the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR) on 27 September 1825 which gave birth to the modern railway, changing how the world traded, travelled, and communicated. It will present a series of free large-scale outdoor events, exhibitions and commissions in the public spaces, libraries, and world-class museums and heritage attractions of County Durham and Tees Valley.

Visitors of all ages will enjoy immersive art installations and augmented-reality digital games, alongside events that explore the heritage of S&DR. Visitors will see treasured artworks in the region for the first time, join thousands of others for awe-inspiring outdoor events and see some of the world’s favourite locomotives.

Costumes Designed for the S&DR200 Festival

You can find out about timings etc. here for Saturday’s launch in Darlington Marketplace: Ghost Train: The Departure – Stockton and Darlington Railway – The main activities/ performances will be happening between 3-5 and then from 7-9.

On Sunday 28^th September there will be events all day in Stockton centre/ riverside, with the final ‘show’ starting at 7.30pm: Ghost Train: The Arrival – Stockton and Darlington Railway

If you are interested in pursuing a career in the creative industries make sure you check out our range of creative programmes. Our three year degree courses span the visual arts and stage & screen industries. Find out more today!