S&DR200 festival to celebrate railway heritage

A festival celebrating railway heritage is set to launch in the North East with a spectacular open-air event in Bishop Auckland.

The nine-month S&DR200 festival, running from March to November 2025, marks 200 years since the first journey (27 September 1825) on the Stockton and Darlington Railway. 

Delivered by Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, it will feature large-scale outdoor shows, exhibitions and newly commissioned artworks.

Kicking off the celebrations on March 29, All Change will transform 11Arches Park in Bishop Auckland - home to Kynren and the soon-to-be historical theme park - into a breathtaking open-air spectacle featuring drones, projections and live performances.

Created by award-winning theatre company imitating the dog and featuring SKYMAGIC’s renowned drone displays, the event will take audiences through 200 years of railway history from the Industrial Revolution to the present day.

Niccy Hallifax, festival director, said: “It must have been magical 200 years ago to witness the first journey on the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

“With All Change, we aim to recapture that sense of wonder, bringing people together from all corners of the region and further afield for an awe-inspiring event. 

“I hope we can create an unforgettable memory for people of all ages, offering them an exciting glimpse of the region’s fascinating heritage while sparking further creativity and ideas over the years that follow.”

Simon Wainwright, director of imitating the dog, added: “We’ve been so inspired by the incredible story of Locomotion No. 1 and the changes it brought about, from that first short journey to the massive impact it had across the world. 

“Our performance for the opening event explores how train travel opened up the possibilities for ordinary people to travel and to witness world events. 

“All Change will take audiences on a journey, a whistlestop tour through 200 years of history, and will be told through a combination of our trademark storytelling techniques of digital projection, live performance and a newly composed soundscape.” 

A highlight will be a recreation of the first journey on the S&DR with a newly commissioned replica of Locomotion No. 1, built in 1825 by the pioneering railway engineers George and Robert Stephenson at their famous locomotive manufacturing firm in Newcastle’s Forth Street.

The festival will continue with locomotive recreations, sensory installations and exhibitions at major venues, including Locomotion, Preston Park Museum & Grounds, Hopetown and The Story.

To find out more about all the planned events during the S&DR200 festival, see here.

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