BERWICK Kaler will swap the old dame for the Old Gentleman and centre stage for a bit part when he joins the York Theatre Royal company for The Railway Children this summer at the National Railway Museum.

Each year he co-directs the pantomime with Damian Cruden but on this occasion he will be taking instruction from the artistic director. "The reason I've taken on this classic cameo role is to annoy Damian Cruden, who wanted a professional actor to play the part," says Berwick, alias Britain's longest-serving panto dame. "Even before rehearsals begin I have a shock for Cruden: I’ve already learnt my line."

Dame Berwick will take the opportunity to observe the Signal Box Theatre at close quarters, now that this winter's pantomime, Dick Whittington (And His Meerkat), has been moved there on account of the Theatre Royal's on-going £4.1 million redevelopment.

The roles of the Railway Children in Mike Kenny's stage adaptation of E Nesbit's Edwardian story will go to Rozzi Nicholson-Lailey as Bobby, Izaak Cainer as Peter and Beth Lilly as Phyllis.

Rozzi is studying for an MA in Acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, having completed a degree at Cambridge University, from where she toured the United States as Isabella in a university production of Shakespeare's Measure For Measure in 2013.

Izaak Cainer, who was educated in York and appeared in On The Shore Of The Wide World at the Theatre Royal, is the son of North Yorkshire celebrity astrologer Jonathan Cainer. He trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and is "delighted to be returning to York and working with my hometown theatre".

"I grew up watching plays at York Theatre Royal and used to go to the panto every year with Berwick Kaler and Martin Barrass, so it’ll be great fun and a little surreal to be sharing a stage with them," says Izaak. "I’m looking forward to spending the summer with old friends and family and I have lots of little nephews who can’t wait to see it, though I suspect they may be more excited about the steam train than watching me perform."

Beth Lilly appeared as Edna in the ITV series Grantchester, having trained at the Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts and her theatre credits include Juliet in Romeo And Juliet at the Cambridge Theatre Festival.

York actress Andrina Carroll will be playing the children's mother, completing a hat-trick of appearances in the role, having performed in the 2008 premiere and 2009 revival at the NRM.

Other actors returning to the show will include the aforementioned pantomime stooge Martin Barrass as station master Mr Perks, reprising his 2009 role; Elianne Bryne as Mrs Perks, just as she was in 2009; Rob Angell as the father, doctor and railway man, as in 2008 and 2009; and Jacqueline Naylor as Mrs Viney, who looks after the family when they move to Yorkshire.

Since her 2009 role, Elianne has had two railway children of her own. "They're very excited about seeing the show," she says. Rob, meanwhile, has been starring in a multitude of village and town tours by Green Hammerton company Badapple Theatre, such as this year's The Unlikely Dads. Jacqueline last appeared in a Theatre Royal show as Mrs Badger in The Wind In The Willows last year.

Damian Cruden is at present in rehearsal for the June 26 opening of In Fog And Falling Snow as the opening play of the Theatre Royal's residency at the NRM. The Railway Children awaits: "Now casting is complete, I'm looking forward to getting started on rehearsals." he says. "The success of The Railway Children has been phenomenal and in such a different year for York Theatre Royal, it's brilliant to be bringing the production back to its original home."

The Railway Children's story of three Edwardian children and their mother moving from London to a modest cottage near a Yorkshire country railway line will be staged in a 1,000-seat theatre, replete with a railway track, platforms and the 60-tonne steam locomotive from the original 1970 film.

NRM director Paul Kirkman says: "The Pannier Tank, which featured in the Lionel Jeffries film, was recently restored at our Shildon museum, so it will be looking its best for this welcome home performance for The Railway Children, which originated right here at the National Railway Museum.

"This year will be bigger and better than ever as although it’s the third run, it’s the first time in a purpose-built theatre in our South Yard and the first time the Theatre Royal has been resident with us. This adds a whole new layer to what we can offer our visitors this summer and really raises the bar for museums and the arts working collaboratively together."

The Railway Children will run from July 31 to September 5. Tickets are on sale on 01904 623568, at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk or in person at the De Grey Rooms box office in St Leonard’s Place.