M6 show to embark on national tour

M6 Theatre Company

An original children’s play created by Rochdale’s M6 theatre company is due to go on a national tour.

‘Grandpa’s Railway’, which has already toured Rochdale schools and was performed at the Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival, opens in London on 28 January, with shows scheduled up and down the country.

The play, which features a working model railway, outlines the story of Colin and Nita, who pack up their house to move closer to their granddaughter Ruby.

Gilly Baskeyfield, Artistic Programme Manager of M6, said: “The show is full of playful characters and features a real working model railway which literally makes the children scream with delight.”

The tour comes to the local area with shows at The Lowry in Manchester and M6 itself, but Gilly was keen to stress that booking is essential at M6 due to the limited availability.

The theatre company is also currently running a monologue competition for young people with the winner due to be announced on 20 January.

Organiser Caroline Kennedy said: “We’re now down to a shortlist of five. The winner will receive £250, a chance to be published in a book with previous winners, and two sessions with professional writers to re-draft their work.”