It’s standing room only for a clutch of children from North Herts who are starring in a stage adaption of The Railway Children.

An award-winning production of Edith Nesbit’s much-loved novel – featuring an ensemble cast with children from Hitchin, Letchworth, Ickleford, Kings Walden and Stevenage – is opening at the specially created King’s Cross Theatre on December 16.

The kids study at Preston Primary School, Kingshott School, Ickleford Primary School, Hitchin Girls’ School and Pixmore Primary School, but are nurturing their budding acting careers at Letchworth’s Box of Frogs Theatre.

Letchworth-based producer Sue Scott Davison said: “This is the first time the show has used children from North Herts. We decided to cast the net wider, and were blown away by the talent that came forward for the rigorous auditions from the home counties.

“The standard was high, so we were thrilled that so many of our local children made it through. The children will form part of the blue and red teams and will perform in two to four shows per week.

“The Railway Children was a huge success at its first London home at Waterloo, and even won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment in 2011. We are hoping to repeat the success at King’s Cross.”

The 1901 novel, and the family favourite film based on it, tells the story of Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis, whose lives change dramatically when their father is mysteriously taken away.

Google have loaned the production their site behind London King’s Cross station, where a 1,000-seat theatre complete with a railway track and platforms will be created.

For more information about the production – which runs until March of next year – go to www.railwaychildrenlondon.com.