Final-year BA (Hons) Production Design for Stage & Screen students at The Northern School of Art have spent the past year with leading outdoor performance company Avanti Display creating stunning props for a major event to mark the 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR200) and the birth of the modern railway.

Ghost Train: The Arrival, a large-scale spectacle co-created by Avanti Display with acclaimed outdoor art performance specialist company Walk The Plank, took place on 28 September on Stockton Riverside in front of thousands of spectators and work by the Production Design students featured centre stage at the event.

Some of the School’s Hartlepool campus set design-specialist degree course project team have been reflecting on the experience and the incredible opportunity to transform their classroom training into professional practice, working from concept to construction.

Over several months, third-year students Phoebe Lynch, Emily Delaney, and Noah Harvey worked closely with Avanti Display’s Head of Engagement and Props, Bryan Tweddle, and the company’s production team to design and build props for a grand banquet table which was a central feature of the Ghost Train show on Stockton Riverside.

Phoebe, from Prudhoe, Northumberland, designed and constructed two elaborate candelabras for the table. “We had regular meetings with Bryan to discuss layout, scale and materials,” she said. “Seeing our finished pieces lowered into place by crane was incredible. I felt so proud of what we’d achieved.”

Emily, from Keighley, West Yorkshire, designed and built a historically inspired fruit display, considering both period authenticity and the practical demands of an outdoor event. “The project gave me invaluable experience in taking a design from concept through to completion,” she said. “It was fantastic to see the final piece on stage as part of such a major event.”

Meanwhile, Noah, from Kent, created striking food props including a giant apple pie and, working in collaboration with fellow student Emily Harrington, a stunning boar’s head – combining digital design, laser cutting, and traditional scenic techniques. “It was daunting at first, knowing such a large audience would see our work,” he said. “But applying the skills I’d learned on my course, from Illustrator to 3D modelling, made the process smooth and rewarding.”

When asked how The Northern School of Art’s specialist set and prop design degree course helped to equip them with the skills needed to work to a professional brief, from digital design and CAD to workshop practice and project management, Emily commented: “I’ve learnt a lot of CAD skills that helped with the initial design phase. Being able to use the workshop tools and machinery was also incredibly useful when it came to the construction portion. I felt my course training was perfectly applicable to this situation.”

Phoebe added: “Being part of such a high-profile project has really boosted my confidence as a designer. It opened my eyes to how classroom learning translates into professional production.”

Noah agreed that the project was the perfect way to find out more about how the set design degree could lead to a career: “The networking opportunities and feedback we received from Avanti Display were brilliant. This experience will definitely help us as we move into the industry.”

The project was part of a school-wide creative collaboration with Avanti Display and Walk the Plank alongside students on the School’s Acting for Stage & Screen, Costume Design, Textile Design and Model Making and VFX degree courses.

Emily reflected: “It was great to represent the School and collaborate with students from other departments, seeing everyone’s contributions come together in one incredible performance.”

Follow the students’ work on their Instagram pages at

• Phoebe Lynch @plynch_designs
• Emily Delaney @delaney.design_
• Noah Harvey @nh_productiondesign

The Northern School of Art’s BA (Hons) in Set Design for Stage and Screen provides a unique and challenging opportunity to develop a range of specialist skills in set design and the development and production of props and characters. Further details are available HERE