World Premiere ‘Departing at 18:25’
The train of life is ready to pull into the station…when will you get off…and where will your journey end?
Stockton and Darlington, November 2024
The Georgian Theatre Stockton-on-Tees (29th November / 7.30pm)
Theatre Hullabaloo Darlington (30th November / 8pm).
£10 (all tickets / advance & on the door)
80 minutes duration (plus interval)
They often say that the direction of your life is already mapped out at birth, and that destiny will deliver your fate. But people still need to roll the dice and make those decisions for themselves to see where that journey will take them.
Departing at 18:25 is a brand-new stage production being delivered by the Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance where the combination of dance and musical styles of Tango, Afrobeat, Traditional Irish Dance and Roller-skating will be used to capture the audiences’ imagination and take them on their own personal journey.
One underlining topic being addressed is the need for society to allow people the freedom to travel, explore and settle anywhere in the world, which is a common theme that often divides global communities.
The 80-minute showcase will explore a variety of themes including the creation of the Locomotion and the first passenger train that travelled along the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825; A love story staged during the First World War (1910-1913); A heartfelt story reenacted during the Windrush generation (1953); and finishing with passengers travelling by train to Billingham to celebrate the festival’s 60th anniversary in 2025.
9 professional dancers, 5 musicians, 7 roller-skaters, 1 actor and 1 visual artist (who will be painting live throughout the performance) will help produce the on-stage whirlwind adventure and use creative and ingenious methods to bring the story to life.
The live music and diverse dance techniques will ensure that audience members feel part of the show.
Departing at 18:25 is supported by an Arts Council National Lottery Project Grant.
Cast / Performers (companies)
Gary Beacom (World professional ice-skating champion from / CANADA)
John Sampson (Professional musician, composer and actor / SCOTLAND)
Jenny & Ricardo Oria Tango (Performed at BBC Proms / Argentine Tango / SCOTLAND)
Absolutely Legless (Irish dancers and musicians / SCOTLAND)
Art Bailey (Tango musician / MANCHESTER)
Taste of Africa North East (Tees Valley / NORTH EAST ENGLAND)
Jo Pickering (Tees Valley-based Visual Artist / NORTH EAST ENGLAND)
Roller-skaters from Billingham Ice Skating Club (Tees Valley / NORTH EAST ENGLAND)
