Annual Production Pages
I've been cleaning up the Bochum Production galleries - I want these pages to be more than just pictures, I want them to hold all the info about what happened that year. What changed with the new cast? What big publicity things went on? The first thing I've been doing is updating the code for the Cast List tables - not very exciting, but what I've done is both move the cast list to the top of the page, and made it collapsible so the important information is right there if that's what you're interested in, but you can just click it away if you just want to get to the pictures!
I've got a bit of logic to the order of things, the idea is to take us from inside the world of the show, to behind the curtain reality. First section of images is …
Rumours and Mentions...
I've been looking for a bit of information, a mention, a teaser in the press, concerning potential future productions of Starlight Express that may or may not happen. The sort of thing that's far too small a crumb of information to write an article about... but wouldn't it be interesting to document these rumours and possibilities, to look back on in the future? To have the archive for when something first was mentioned, all the things that never came to pass?
How would we go about documenting this on a wiki? Obviously, sources are vital to be taken seriously. But should we then exclude the unsourced "everyone knows" type rumours? The things that the cast at the time all knew about, like moving the London production into the Millennium …
Spring Cleaning, and Fresh Improvements!
Happy Spring everyone - unless Happy Autumn suits you better!
So over on the Cats wiki recently, there's been something of a furore, and it's brought to light that as admin, I have become rather complacent and not engaging with the community enough. I've been used to getting very little feedback, come to expect no feedback, and no longer asking for feedback means there's no longer an opportunity for the community to speak up and offer opinions. I need to change that, so from now on I'm going to make sure that as I'm developing ideas on improvements to the wiki, I'm sharing my work, asking for comments, and acting on suggestions. But this does mean that I need help from you! Yes, you personally, if you're reading this then you're the per…
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