Off The Rails
May 1983

Written by John Waterhouse

Directed by Peter O'Brien
Assisted by Hayley Jones

 
Cast List
Maudie Bentwhistle
Brenda Pearson
 
Percy Hollis
Bill Beck
 
Harry Bentwhistle
Chris Williams
 
Bertha Keepbright
Pauline Harley
 
Col. Throgmorton OBE
Brian Eratt
 
Miss Hickory
Rosina Fletcher
 
Gladys Bentwhistle
Janet May
 
Aneurin Jenkins
Nigel Medhurst
 
Sam McNab
Frank Waslin
 

 
Stage Manager
Dean Caston
 
Assisted By
Mike Mullinger
 
Prompt
Hayley Jones
 
Props
Lesley-Ann Rice
 
Caller
Janet Watkins
 
Lighting & Sound
Michael Harley & Mike Pantry
 
Costumes
Cast members
 
 

Our thanks go to the Kent & East Sussex Railway and the "Three Horseshoes" pub, Lower Hardres, Canterbury for their assistance with this production.

Harry Bentwhistle runs a small railway station along with two assistants who, in his opinion, are both incompetent. After receiving a letter informing him the station is to close, representatives of the railway company arrive to tell Harry he has a reprieve because a nuclear power station is being built near the village. Following a dispute with the incoming Trades Union Shop Steward (there is no pub in the village for his men), Harry sets up a very unofficial bar at the station. Upon the return of the company officials, Harry desperately tries to keep the bar activities hidden whilst dealing with his long-suffering wife, Maudie, who has had enough and has threatened to leave him, as well as the blossoming relationship between the Shop Steward and his daughter. Eventually, the officials return to announce the nuclear plant will not now go ahead, however, Harry's station is to be kept open as an example of how not to run a station.

 
 
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