The Ghost Train

The Ghost Train

Written By Arnold Ridley

Performed by Wellington Theatre Company at Wellington Arts Centre

On Saturday 12th April 2025

Directed by Colin Marshall

This famous play was written in 1923 by Arnold Ridley, more familiarly known as Private Godfrey in Dad’s Army ( TV series). It is said he wrote it in a week after being stranded on a train for four hours when travelling from the Midlands to Gloucester. This classical and hugely successful play has been made into a number of films and performed on stage thousands of times with even a chamber Opera written and performed in North Carolina, US.  This version was adapted by Jocelyn and Nicolas Ridely, children of Arnold and it continues to thrill audiences worldwide.

The set is a superbly designed waiting room of Fal Vale, an isolated railway station in south Cornwall. Expertly designed by using flats, brought forward from the cyclorama, giving access to the waiting room via a central part-glazed door embellished with GWR and two Georgian aesthetic glazed windows either side of the door, high up. The waiting room was created on stage right with a ticket office flap and door into the office, marked Private, providing the second entrance on and off stage for the cast. The yellow and orange painted walls are purposely grubby, moldy looking and has seen better days, with a fireplace and mantle situated stage left, burning and flickering with touches of smoke throughout the production. So effective and realistic. Old and peeling posters of Cornwall views and advertisements plus a timetable adorn the walls with stage props of old chairs, small table and benches (also marked with GWR at each end) for the cast to use.

This wonderful set greets the audience whilst they take their seats as 1920’s songs of the time are quietly played such as ‘Oh Mr Porter’. We hear the sound of a steam train as it enters the station with incredible lighting effects of both yellow and blue with smoke viewed through the windows, as the waiting room door opens. I have to make mention of the sound and lighting effects created in this production from the beginning of this report as both added so much to the outcome of the piece. The blue of the cyclorama, dark at the bottom and lighter as you move skywards, the sound of approaching and passing steam engines with convincing lighting felt so authentic. The blinding white lights on the audience at the end of Act 2. The gentle sound of rain during scenes and its intensity increasing as the waiting room door is opened to the elements. With such immense attention to detail, it is not surprising the Director’s profession was that of sound engineer for the BBC.

Elsie and Richard Winthrop are the first to enter. A couple only married for a year are at odds. Both with good diction and stage presence they are played, sincerely, as Elsie grows increasingly irritated with Richard who is continuously apologising for everything. These two work well together and are a convincing warring couple intent on separating due to Richard’s ‘bullying ways and Elsie being ‘so damnedly independent’. Saul Hodgkins, the station master, is expertly played by an assured actor with a strong Cornish accent, relishing in the part as he depicts the legend of the Ghost Train to the stranded passengers. He is really desperate for them to leave the station due to his nefarious alter occupation as a gun smuggler. Charlie and Peggy Murdock, newlyweds and also stranded, are believable as a loved up young couple. They are interrupted’ in an embrace by Miss Bourne, carrying her carpet bag and birdcage, played with tenacity by this lovely actor who is suitably jarring with Teddy Deakin, ‘you are an ill-mannered young pup’ and very funny as she becomes inebriated. Teddy is portrayed, flourishingly, by an actor who is so watchable and believable. Disguised as a foppish silly ass but really is Detective Inspector Morrison trying to catch the gun smugglers, his comic timing is exceptional and lightens the darkening depths of the play. 

In Act Two of this three act play we are introduced to Julia Price, a supposed runaway mental patient of Dr Sterling and obsessed with the tale of the Ghost Train. In reality she and the doctor are members of the gun smuggling gang and try to persuade the stranded passengers the story is real. The actor playing Julia was wonderfully mad, using superb facial expression as she fearfully grabs her coat and is suitably anguished as she relays her experience. As was the actor portraying Dr Sterling who possesses a pleasant voice used to good effect as he tries to calm Julia. The scenes between the two of them were full of angst and great to watch. Act Three brings to conclusion the reality that the Ghost Train is just a story created by Saul Hodgkins to frighten the passengers into leaving the station. Jackson appears as one of the armed officers of Inspector Morrison and Julia, Dr Sterling and Saul are arrested.

The costumes were chosen well. Elsie in a tea dress with green coat and hat. Peggy’s satin cream tea dress, brown coat with fur and diamante brooch, brown hat with cream band and feather. Miss Bourne in a 1920’s long black bias cut dress, black coat and hat. Julia in her 20’s flapper style dress and bobbed wig. The men’s suits were double breasted, braces, hats and overcoats. The station master’s GWR uniform, black with red piping and rain cape. Freddy, with his red bow tie and a knitted beige, red and green sweater vest. I loved the overall look of this piece and the director had paid attention to detail not only with its production but with the characters, casting the parts well and concentrating in rehearsal on the individual portrayals.

I have not had the delight to visit this company before but I felt very privileged to watch such a carefully crafted and expertly performed production.  I must send my most grateful thanks to both Penny and Kirk for your warm welcome and introduction to Wellington Theatre Company and my firm congratulations for a wonderful piece of theatre.

Lyn Burgoyne  - South West Noda Representative (District 5, Mid and East Devon) 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.