Swindon175 Performance of ‘Brunel: The Little Man in the Tall Hat’

This weekend, culture vultures and historians in Swindon will be treated to a special Swindon175 celebration performance at STEAM by the highly acclaimed Janice Thompson Performance Trust.

Brunel: The Little Man in the Tall Hat is an hour-long youth and community opera, composed by Betty Roe MBE.  With well-researched libretto by Marion Lines, the opera was originally commissioned for the Brunel 200 South-West celebrations in 2006 and performed at STEAM.

Now refreshed and revived, the opera presents a keynote performance for this year’s Swindon175 celebrations.

With a cast of 100 children and adult singers and performers, the railway-themed piece tells the story of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the railway workers of Swindon as they travel on the annual holiday 'Trip train' to St Ives.

Taking place on the stage inside STEAM’s Great Western Hall and complete with railway atmospherics (including a running model railway), Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s life and achievements begin to unfold - through the eyes of 'the Beddows' - a fictitious family of Swindon railway workers.

Suitable for all ages, this unique performance includes many young singers (the youngest being four years old) and takes the audience on a historic journey as they witness the chatter and excitement of family folk, the noise of the iron foundry and even the ‘ghosts’ of Box Tunnel.

Three Performances:

Saturday 9 July (7pm start) and Sunday 10 July (4pm and 7.00pm start)

Ticket prices (on the door): £10 adults and £6 under 16s or buy tickets from the Wyvern Theatre Box Office (booking fee applies), Tel: 01793 524481.

To find out more about STEAM and the Museum’s programme of events, please see the

To get involved or for more details about Swindon 175 events visit Swindon175.com or contact [email protected]