YOU can see a load of twaddle at the National Railway Museum twice daily right now, but in a good way.
As part of the collaboration between the NRM and York Theatre Royal, museum and theatre staff are presenting an interactive 25-minute piece at the NRM's Learning Platform right through to the end of the summer holidays.
Twaddle Train is a light-hearted storytelling show based on overheard conversations. More precisely, its trigger was a selection of submissions from the public via social media, prompted by chat and stories they heard while travelling by train.
These snapshots into other people’s lives and associated "twaddle" – here defined as "trivial or foolish speech" – have been collated and transformed into Twaddle Train, performed on rows of seats to a backdrop of suitcases and video footage of passing scenery from a carriage window.
Performances start at 12.30pm and 2.30pm; entry is free, no booking is required; just make your way through the Station Hall to the Learning Platform, where you will be greeted by a cheery ticket collector, who turns out to be the main character, played by a member of the NRM Explainers team.
Paula Clark, Jonny Hogg and audience volunteers in a scene from Twaddle Train. Picture: Dan Clarkson
On this occasion it is Rose Gaynor; on other occasions it could be the fiery bearded Jonny Hogg, pictured above, or another of the Explainers that form the rotating cast with members of the Theatre Royal creative engagement team.
Nicolette Hobson is on multi role-playing duty as all manner of garrulous passengers on Rose's train; the likes of youth theatre practitioner Paula Clark and education & young actors associate Julian Ollive will do so at other performances.
The narrative journey on board the Twaddle Train is steered by audience members picking the next story from one of four books on show; the loudest cheer for a book will decide the choice, whereupon Rose tells the story in conversation with Nicolette as she plays such characters as a woman wondering why some seats don't face forwards in a carriage.
The reason, should you be wondering, is that a train has an engine at both ends and so carriages are designed with seats facing both ways.
Ticket collector Rose urges everyone to respond "What A Load Of Twaddle" at every overheard comment, and plenty more audience participation is encouraged. In one of those serendipitous moments that only a live show can provide, Rose picks two volunteers to play British Transport Policemen to arrest Nicolette's overheard robber. "What are you called?", she asks the first. "Robin," he replies. "What about you?", she asks the second. "Robin"! Robin, the policemen. You couldn't make it up.
Rose and Nicolette bring bags of energy and humour to their fast-moving, fun, informative show that in reality is anything but a load of twaddle. Do climb aboard the Twaddle Train on your next NRM visit.
Twaddle Train, York Theatre Royal and National Railway Museum, Learning Platform, National Railway Museum, York, until September 6, at 12.30pm and 2.30pm.
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