Railway Children nominated for award (From York Press)

Railway Children nominated for award

2:31pm Tuesday 9th March 2010 in

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York Theatre Royal and the National Railway Museum’s production of The Railway Children has been short-listed for the top prize of Best Tourism Experience in the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence.

Artistic director Damian Cruden’s site-specific show, first staged in 2008 and re-mounted last summer, already has picked up a White Rose Award for Tourism and was the regional winner for the York Tourism Awards for Excellence.

Box-office sales rose by 9.2 per cent for the 2009 run when more than 26,000 people attended Mike Kenny's stage adaptation at the NRM, boosting tourism in the city while showcasing the high standard of regional theatre in Britain.

Welcoming the nomination, Mr Cruden said: “The creation of our production has been a source of great pride to the NRM, York Theatre Royal and the people of York who have welcomed many guests from around the world to see the show.

“The concept of combining the resources, skills and talents of two of the city’s leading cultural organisations has proved that partnership and a shared vision can create great events that attract the attention of a wider public.

“The creation of a new theatre space made this an exciting and unique piece of art that displayed the best of our heritage both old and new. We hope that there is a bright future for this production that will continue to fly the flag of British culture before an ever growing national and international audience.”

Sue Dalton, cultural planning manager at the NRM, said: “Ever since it launched in 2008, The Railway Children has been incredibly popular and a real jewel in our crown. Being short-listed for one of the most prestigious awards in English tourism is a real thrill and we’re so pleased to be representing our proud region on a national level.”

The winner will be announced on St George’s Day, April 23, at a ceremony hosted by the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery and Brighton Dome Corn Exchange.