Back on track: how lockdown led to a new operatic version of The Railway Children

"Back on Track: How Lockdown Led to A New Operatic Version of The Railway Children"

When lockdown struck, it led to an unusual but welcome outcome for composer Mark-Anthony Turnage. It was during this period that he and his partner Rachael Hewer began working on a new operatic version of E Nesbit's classic novel, The Railway Children.

As the world around them descended into chaos, with daily briefings and soaring case numbers, the couple found themselves in a fortunate position. With no theatres to occupy their time, they turned their attention to the creative arts, and what emerged was a brand-new opera.

One of the driving forces behind this new project was nostalgia for the iconic 1970 film adaptation, starring Jenny Agutter and Sally Thomsett. Turnage has long been fascinated by this period of British history, which would eventually become the setting for his updated opera.

"Updating The Railway Children to reflect contemporary themes and characters," Turnage explains, "allowed us to tap into a timeless story while still being faithful to its original spirit."

The new opera boasts an Edwardian setting transformed into the 1980s, with a spy element added to keep things thrilling. One notable change is that mother becomes a much stronger character in this version.

When the project was finally presented to Glyndebourne's artistic director Stephen Langridge, it took some convincing to secure his support. However, after reviewing the full manuscript and the talented cast assembled for the production, he gave the green light for The Railway Children to be staged.

It has now been confirmed that Mark-Anthony Turnage will make his operatic debut as conductor on this very same stage, in what promises to be a groundbreaking performance of one of British literature's most beloved stories.

I think its pretty cool how lockdown kinda forced those artists into a creative rut but somehow turned it into something super beautiful ! I mean, who needs theaters when you've got imagination and passion? The fact that the new opera has contemporary themes and strong female characters is like, totally on point . I'm not saying the 1970 film was bad or anything, but an updated version with a spy twist sounds like so much fun!

I'm totally stoked about this new opera adaptation of The Railway Children ! Lockdowns can be super frustrating, but it seems like they actually helped Turnage and his partner Rachael Hewer tap into their creative potential . Adding a spy element to the classic story is pure genius - who wouldn't want to see a 1980s espionage thriller set against the backdrop of British history? And I love that mother becomes a stronger character in this version, it's about time we saw more powerful female roles on stage ‍! Can't wait for Mark-Anthony Turnage to make his operatic debut as conductor - it's gonna be lit !

omg u guys I'm literally so stoked about this new opera adaptation of The Railway Children ! I mean, who wouldn't want to see Mark-Anthony Turnage bring his unique sound to the classic story? I love how he's put a modern twist on it with the addition of a spy element - sounds like it's gonna be so intense and I'm here for the new, stronger mother character too! The fact that they took inspiration from the 1970 film is cool, but I'm excited to see Turnage's own vision come to life on stage. Glyndebourne is gonna kill it with this production, can't wait to see the talented cast in action

I'm so down for an updated version of The Railway Children it's like, totally awesome that Mark-Anthony Turnage and Rachael Hewer managed to create something new out of lockdown vibes I've always loved the original 1970 film, but adding a spy element in this new version sounds like a fresh twist It's also cool that mother is getting more screen time in this adaptation, she's definitely an underrated character Fingers crossed that Turnage will bring the house down as conductor at Glyndebourne!

just heard about this opera thingy and i think its cool how lockdown actually ended up being good for some people. like composer dude Mark-Anthony Turnage and his partner Rachael Hewer just chillin at home and creating something new . its interesting how they took that old book The Railway Children and gave it a fresh spin, updated it to the 80s and added spy elements... sounds kinda awesome

I'm stoked about this new opera, but let's talk about the economic impact of lockdown on artists like Mark-Anthony Turnage. I mean, it was basically a blessing in disguise for him and his partner, as they were forced to think outside the box . It's all about finding opportunities in crisis, right? But what does this say about our society's reliance on theatre and the arts? Should we be investing more in these types of programs that bring people together?

And have you noticed how the new opera is adding a spy element? I'm not sure if it's meant to be commentary on the state's surveillance powers or just a fun twist, but either way, it raises some interesting questions about censorship and creative freedom . Should artists be more mindful of their audience and the potential consequences of their work?

I also want to ask: what does this say about our priorities as a society? Do we value the arts enough to invest in them during times of crisis, or are they an afterthought? The fact that Turnage had to convince Glyndebourne's artistic director to greenlight the project raises some questions about the state of funding for the arts . Is it possible that we're undervaluing the impact that opera and theatre can have on our culture?

I mean, can you even believe how lockdown ended up helping create a brand new opera? It's wild to think that Turnage and Hewer just went for it while everyone else was stuck at home. And the fact that they were able to tap into all this nostalgia for the classic film adaptation is pretty cool. The idea of updating The Railway Children to fit modern themes is genius, especially with the added spy element - it's gonna be a real page-turner!

I'm low-key obsessed with the idea of lockdown leading to something as amazing as this new opera version of The Railway Children ! I mean, who would've thought that all those cancelled theatre gigs and social distancing vibes would end up giving us a fresh take on a classic tale? It's like Mark-Anthony Turnage was just waiting for the world to slow down so he could get creative . And I love how they're updating the story to fit contemporary themes – it's all about keeping that timeless feel while still making it relevant . Can't wait to see this production come together at Glyndebourne, and Mark-Anthony Turnage make his operatic debut as conductor!

I'm so stoked about this new opera version of The Railway Children! Lockdown was definitely a weird time for everyone, but I guess it kinda sparked some creativity for Mark-Anthony Turnage and his partner Rachael Hewer . It's awesome that they were able to turn their downtime into something amazing. I love how they've updated the story with contemporary themes and characters - it's gonna be so cool to see it come together! And I'm totally here for the Edwardian setting getting a 1980s twist . Can't wait to see this new production at Glyndebourne, especially since Mark-Anthony Turnage is making his debut as conductor

[Image of a train chugging along with a conductor waving from the window]

omg did you know lockdown was like, the best thing that ever happened to opera?
[Animated GIF of a person sitting on a couch, surrounded by empty pizza boxes and video games]
lockdown = productivity

OMG just read about the new operatic version of The Railway Children and I'm SO down for it! did u know lockdown actually led to a brand new opera? Mark-Anthony Turnage & Rachael Hewer worked on this project while the world was stuck at home and it's like they tapped into this amazing creativity

stats:

* 44% of people who read about this story are thinking of watching the original film adaptation
* 61% of opera fans are excited to see Mark-Anthony Turnage make his operatic debut
* 27% of users have searched for more info on The Railway Children since reading this news

fun fact: did u know that the iconic 1970 film adaptation was based on a novel by E Nesbit, which has sold over 20 million copies worldwide?

idk why ppl r so hyped about lockdown ... think it was kinda a blessing in disguise for creatives like turnage & hewer! if they weren't stuck at home, who knows when they'd have had the time & focus to work on that new opera? plus, having all those extra hours to brainstorm must've been super beneficial. and omg, i love how they updated the mom character - gives it a fresh spin

OMG I'm so down for an updated opy version of The Railway Children!!! It's like, totally exciting to see how Mark-Anthony Turnage is bringing this classic novel into the 21st century with a spy element and a stronger female lead. I love how he's tapping into that nostalgia from the iconic film adaption while still making it fresh. And can you believe he'll be conducting his own debut performance at Glyndebourne? It's like, totally fitting! The fact that lockdown actually ended up being a creative blessing in disguise is wild

I'm loving how lockdown turned out to be a blessing in disguise for composer Mark-Anthony Turnage and his partner Rachael Hewer! Who knew a global pandemic would lead to the creation of an epic new opera? It's crazy to think about how they were able to tap into their creativity during those tough times. The addition of a spy element and a stronger female lead is genius, it's awesome that they're updating this classic tale for a modern audience. The fact that Turnage will be making his operatic debut as conductor at Glyndebourne Opera House is super exciting! I'm definitely looking forward to witnessing this groundbreaking production.

I'm so stoked about this new opera adaptation of The Railway Children! I mean, who wouldn't want to see a spy thriller set in the 80s with a strong female lead? It's like Turnage took all the best bits from the original and mixed it with some fresh excitement. And can you imagine seeing Mark-Anthony Turnage on stage conducting his own opera debut? That's like a dream come true for any music lover . I'm curious to see how they'll bring this new story to life – I've heard great things about the cast and the set design is going to be insane!

OMG, can you believe how lockdown actually ended up being a creative blessing for composers and artists? I mean, who needs a crowded theatre when you've got the freedom to experiment and come up with something entirely new? The Railway Children opera sounds AMAZING btw! I love how they took an iconic story from the 70s and updated it with modern twists like a spy element. And yay for mother becoming a stronger character - representation matters, right? I'm all about Mark-Anthony Turnage's new operatic debut, can't wait to see him bring this masterpiece to life on stage!

I'm not sure if lockdown was actually a blessing in disguise for artists like Mark-Anthony Turnage and Rachael Hewer. On the one hand, they were able to focus on their craft without distractions, which is great. But on the other hand, it's crazy that people had to wait so long for creative outlets to reopen after all the isolation. Still, it's awesome that they managed to create something new from The Railway Children. I mean, who wouldn't want a modern, thrilling take on a classic?

As for the opera itself, I'm curious to see how it plays out. Adding a spy element sounds like an interesting twist. Can't wait to hear what the cast and conductor bring to the table!

omg i just found out about this new operatic version of The Railway Children and im so down ! lockdown was weird but turns out it led to some awesome stuff. Mark-Anthony Turnage and his partner Rachael Hewer are like the ultimate creative duo , bringing a fresh spin to E Nesbit's classic novel.

i love that they took inspiration from the 1970 film adaptation and added a spy element to keep things exciting . and can we talk about mother becoming a stronger character in this version? it's all about empowerment, you know?

glyndebourne is hosting the premiere and i cant wait to see Mark-Anthony Turnage make his operatic debut as conductor . this is gonna be epic!