The Market Deeping Model Railway Club at Nottingham Playhouse Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW’

Reviewed by Louise Edwards

Wow, a play about the wholesome world of model railways is not what you would have thought would be riveting, funny, and emotional, but The Market Deeping Model Railway Club (located a short train ride from the Playhouse incidentally in Lincolnshire) on at the Nottingham Playhouse certainly is. Based on a true story and written by Nottinghamshire playwright, William Ivory and directed by the Playhouse’s own Artistic Director, Adam Penfold the plot is everything and more you would want from an evening’s entertainment.

The other thing that drew me in was the cast, who are all familiar faces from stage and screen including Adrian Scarborough, who plays Graham, Lucy Briers his wife, Linda as well as Matt Bardock who plays the outspoken Chris, Paul Bradley who plays Jerry, Geoffrey Beevers as George, James Bradshaw playing Neil, Deka Walmsley as Ken and last but by no means least Babatunde Aléshé as Jordan.

Each character has a fully developed personality and story of their own that they bring, and as the play unfolds we discover perhaps why their model railway hobby is such an important and big part of their life. Each weekly meeting draws out more and more depth to the characters and their models -some worked on for 20 years and added to each year. At the end of the first half, just before the opening night of Stamford Model Railway competition, which they are hoping to win a hat trick, when mindless thugs vandalise their set up you know this play is going to have you in tears by the end.

The stage design by Soutra Gilmour pivots between the upstairs room of a pub where they hold their meetings, to Graham’s attic where he keeps his beloved railway, and a church hall with creative movement led by a team of stage management and technical experts with train tracks and video adding further atmosphere. This is further balanced with lighting by Howard Hudson and the music from Alexandra Faye Braithwaite which ranged from heavy rock to house. There is a lovely moment where they show real photography of the destruction which brings things back to reality.

The stories of these characters may be invented for the drama, but the scenario is not fiction and may be echoed throughout the country in similar small villages and towns where these traditional customs are still so important and quintessentially British. On the press night, there were members of the Market Deeping Model Railway Club there in the audience and it was amazing to hear how good came from something bad and they have gone on to flourish beyond all expectations, partly due to the generous donations throughout the world (and a kindly benefactor by the name of Sir Rod Stewart who is also a model railway fan). Although the group no doubt went through significant trauma to achieve this, it is really a testament to the joys of human nature to see how the Club has grown and become much more outward and progressive than they were.

Honestly don’t miss it – an excellent production we are honoured to have here in Nottingham.

Rating: 5/5

Until Saturday 25 July 2026 book tickets from £12.50

Available here https://nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/events/the-market-deeping-model-railway-club