Paul Hawkyard joins the cast of The Railway Children at the King's Cross Theatre

Paul Hawkyard joins the cast for final months.

It has been announced that CBeebies star Paul Hawkyard will take over the role of Mr Perks in Mike Kenny's stage adaptation of E. Nesbit's novel The Railway Children - Live on Stage from 23 November 2016 until 8 January 2017, when the show plays its final performance at the King's Cross Theatre in north London.

He joins the cast for the final months of the show, following more than two years of performances at the purpose built 1000 seat venue behind King's Cross Station which opened on 14 January 2015, following previews from 16 December 2014.

He will join a cast that also includes Caroline Harker as Mother, Felicity Houlbrooke as Bobbie, Jack Hardwick as Peter, Louise Calf as Phyllis, Lindsay Allen as Mrs Perks, Peter Gardiner as Doctor/Butler, Connie Hyde as Mrs Viney, Shaun McCourt as Jim, Blair Plant as Father/Schepansky and Moray Treadwell as the Old Gentleman, with Adam Collier, Helen Brampton, Alan Drake and Julie Gilby.

Paul Hawkyard is best known for the popular Cbeebies programme Old Jack's Boat, in which he plays the character Ernie Starboard. His theatre credits include A Christmas Carol (Rose Theatre), War Horse (New London/National Theatre), Birdsong (The Comedy Theatre), Oliver! (London Palladium), Mamma Mia! (Prince of Wales Theatre), South Pacific (National Theatre), Les Misérables (Palace Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar (The Lyceum Theatre) and Miss Saigon (Theatre Royal Drury Lane).

Directed by Damian Cruden the production features designs by Joanna Scotcher, lighting by Richard G. Jones, music by Christopher Madin and sound by Craig Vear. The show was first produced by York Theatre Royal at the National Railway Museum in 2008 and opened at Waterloo Station in July 2010, where it won the 2011 Olivier Award for Best Entertainment.

Tickets for the final months of the production are now on sale.