The S&DR200 festival will launch with All Change, a spectacular open-air event in Bishop Auckland combining dazzling projections, drones and up to 100 live performers bringing history to life, on Saturday 29th March 2025. The nine-month S&DR200 international festival, running from March to November 2025 across County Durham and the Tees Valley, is inspired by the first journey on the Stockton and Darlington Railway in the north east of England, which gave birth to the modern railway.
S&DR200 is being delivered by Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.
The festival offers something for everyone, with highlights throughout the year including a recreation of the first journey on the S&DR with a newly commissioned replica of Locomotion No. 1, free large-scale outdoor events, exhibitions focusing on the history of railways and bringing together paintings of national significance, botanical and sensory installations, iconic locomotives, and newly commissioned artworks showcased in public spaces, libraries, and world-class museums.
Marking the official start of S&DR200, All Change is an unmissable show in Bishop Auckland at 11Arches, the home of Kynren. The event will speed through 200 years of railway history and major historical moments, from the Industrial Revolution, two World Wars to the present, celebrating the transformative power of trains on the landscape and our lives.
Inspired by conversations with local historians, the spectacle will bring history to life with large-scale set pieces, projection mapping, original music and drones. The show will feature up to 100 performers from the local community, made up of the same team of dedicated local trained volunteers.
All Change is created by award-winning performance company imitating the dog, whose piece Arrivals & Departures was part of the opening events for Hull’s year as City of Culture, and Movement Directors Rocky Norton and Katie Pearson, who both contributed to the grand spectacles of all four ceremonies at the Summer Olympics in London 2012. All Change will feature a fleet of 400 drones from world-renowned SKYMAGIC, promising a breathtaking visual experience set against the night sky. As pioneers behind the stunning drone and light displays at iconic events like the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Coachella, and London’s New Year’s celebrations, SKYMAGIC will choreograph an aerial ensemble that weaves into the performance below. The 25-minute show, which will take place for one night only, is suitable for all ages.
S&DR200 is also announcing some new festival highlights across the year at the venues listed above, as well as many others. Please find the latest programme listings online: www.sdr200.co.uk
S&DR200 is being funded by Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. Other major funders include Arts Council England, Tees Valley Combined Authority, The National Heritage Lottery Fund and LNER.