Thoughts on the new London production
Well that was weird.
Rewind: I was at the closing performance back in 2002. I was 17. I was applying to universities. I was living at home. Starlight Express was one of the pillars of my life.
Fast forward to today: I am a grey-haired, married dad. Along the way there have been so many surprises, births and deaths. And yet Starlight remains a constant. I know every word and note of every version of the show. And my daughter is the perfect age to be enchanted by it. But booking tickets, I feel strangely nervous. Will she love it? I want her to love it. Will she even get it?
The Troubador
I love the disco balls on the ceiling. I love the music being piped in: a medley of the race music and 2 songs that are not in this production, "There's Me" and "Rig…
Starlight Express 2024 Countdown - Day 31: The Starlight Express
Only you have the power within you. Just believe in yourself. The sea will part before you, stop the rain, turn the tide. If only you use the power within. Needn’t beg the world to turn around and help you if you draw on what you have within you somewhere deep inside!
The Starlight Express is a train god who responds to an engine in their darkest hour. Only his words can encourage one to find it them to truly believe they can do the impossible. Let’s say if you were at your breaking point, the Starlight Express will hear your distress and he’ll come to your aid. Just as long as you draw on what is deep inside
Occupation - Train God
Kind of Train God - Mystical Star Train
Gender - Male
Starlight Express 2024 Countdown - Day 30: The Marshals
Marshals! Check the course!
A pair of Marshals who manage the race. One of them lets the trains know when to start racing and the other one stands by at the finish line. If there is any foul play or any train wreckage they would step in immediately…that’s unless they are far from the starting or finishing lines.
Occupations - Marshalling Engine
Kinds of Marshalling Engines - British Rail Class 13
Genders - Male
Starlight Express 2024 Countdown - Day 29: Killerwatt
I am Killerwatt. Electra’s Security Truck.
Killerwatt is Electra’s security guard and is the latest of her Components. While he is dedicated to his job, he is more of a spare tool for Electra as she often has him fill out the other components’ tasks when they couldn’t.
(So yeah, I chose to make Killerwatt based on the WW2 Armoured Train Car. I can’t take full credit for that idea. The real credit goes to a friend of mine named Casey. You should go check him out.)
Occupation - Security Truck
Kind of Security Truck - WW2 Armoured Train Car
Gender Male
Starlight Express 2024 Countdown - Day 28: Joule
I am Joule! Electra’s Dynamite Truck!
Joule is Electra’s Pyromaniac and is very wild with emotions. Show her something funny, she’ll burst in laughter. Show her something sad, she’ll break down entirely. Make her mad…well…she’ll explode both emotionally AND literally!
Occupation - Dynamite Truck
Kind of Dynamite Truck - Tank Car
Gender - Female
Starlight Express 2024 Countdown - 27: Volta
I am Volta. Electra’s Freezer Truck.
Volta is Electra’s Freezer Truck and is Electra’s girlfriend and personal assistant. Despite their close relationship as lovers, their love is a flickering light. One moment they’ll be fighting with each other with Electra rejecting Volta, leaving her getting back at the CC40100 by exposing her bad intentions. The other moment Volta will come to Electra’s aid the moment she crashes in a tunnel.
Occupation - Freezer Truck
Kind of Freezer Truck - Refrigerator Truck
Gender - Female
Starlight Express 2024 Countdown - Day 26: Purse
I am Purse. Electra’s Money Truck!
Purse is Electra’s money handler and he is bound to get any job done for her. Wether it’s sorting out her money, paying people or handing out an invite for people to race with her he is very dedicated to his job and doesn’t want to get fired. He is looking to be in a relationship with someone. Sorry ladies, but this dude is into dudes.
Occupation - Money Truck
Kind of Money Truck - Money Train Car
Gender - Male
Starlight Express 2024 Countdown - Day 25: Wrench
I am Wrench. Electra’s Repair Truck.
Wrench is Electra’s medic and will come to her aid if she is injured. There are times where she will come to her aid to fix her up on her own merits or someone (like Volta) will have to call her over if she gets distracted.
Occupation - Repair Truck
Kind of Repair Truck - Railway Crane
Gender - Female
Starlight Express 2024 Countdown - Day 24: Krupp
I am Krupp. Electra’s Armanents Truck!
Krupp is Electra’s bodyguard and quite takes his job seriously. If he found you trying to get close to his boss without her permission, he would either file a restraining order at best or shoot you at worst.
Occupation - Armanents Truck
Kind of Armanents Truck - Krupp K5
Gender - Male
Starlight Express 2024 Countdown - Day 23: Greaseball’s Gang
You gonna race again, Steam Train? Should do! “Nobody can do it like a Steam Train!” He said “Nobody”! So he IS nobody! BYE BYE! NOBODY!!!
A rough gang of Diesels who follow Greaseball and respect him in every way. Although there are some aspects they don’t like about him, like how their boss is with a second class coach or if he loses. They do have a rivalry with Electra and her components but will side with them if the person that the Components are against is the same person who decides to mess with their boss. And believe me, they LOVE to get rough!
Occupations - Mainline Diesels
Kind of Mainline Diesels - Diesel Locomotives
Genders - Male