News: Shildon’s Anniversary Picnic Brings Railway History to the Stage

 

Shildon’s Anniversary Picnic Brings Railway History to the Stage

This weekend, Shildon will do more than commemorate its proud role in railway history—it will transform it into live theatre. On Saturday 27 September, Hackworth Park becomes a stage where the story of the world’s first passenger railway is retold not through textbooks or exhibitions, but through dance, music, and powerful storytelling.

At the heart of the celebration is STEAM, a newly commissioned performance by Southpaw Company. This is not a static retelling of history but an immersive piece of theatre, weaving together mass movement, striking visuals, and narrative drama. The performance reimagines the determination of pioneers like Timothy Hackworth, George Stephenson, and Edward Pease, whose combined ingenuity reshaped travel and industry forever. For audiences, it promises to be both a history lesson and a visceral, live spectacle.

The Anniversary Picnic isn’t just about looking back—it’s about making history come alive for today’s community. Alongside STEAM, the day’s programme showcases The Auckland Shanty Singers, Easington Brass Band, folk musician Sam Slatcher, and the Railway Institute Singers. Together, these performances create a rolling tapestry of sound and story that speaks to the spirit of Shildon as the world’s first railway town.

Theatre, of course, thrives in community settings, and this event captures that perfectly. From vintage funfair rides and crafts to performances timed across the afternoon, Hackworth Park becomes an open-air theatre where families, history enthusiasts, and casual visitors alike can gather and experience culture woven into heritage. Even the act of sharing a picnic—with free lunches provided by local organisations—becomes part of the theatre of togetherness.

Cllr Karen Allison of Durham County Council has described Shildon as being in the global spotlight this year, and she’s right. But what makes this picnic remarkable isn’t only its historical significance—it’s the way it brings history alive through performance. In a world where heritage is often confined to museums and archives, Shildon is daring to stage it in the open air, as living, breathing theatre.

If you only attend one event in the S&DR200 celebrations, make it this one. See history come to life, hear it sung, feel it danced, and remember it together.

The Anniversary Picnic will feature the performances at the following times:

12pm - The Auckland Shanty Singers

12.30pm - STEAM by Southpaw

1.10pm - Easington Brass Band

1.50pm - Sam Slatcher

2.25pm - Railway Institute Singers

2.50pm - STEAM by Southpaw

3.30pm - Easington Brass Band

There will also be many other events taking place in Darlington and Tees Valley across the weekend. To view the full programme, visit www.sdr200.co.uk .