The Steam Whistle Theatre Company

“Delightful … with its edge-of-your-seat pace, it deserves applause.” Sunday Times, Children’s Book of the Week

“Storytelling at its best … a classic in the making.” The Scotsman

To avoid financial ruin, the Pringle family’s theatre-troupe has left London behind, travelling to the north of England by train. With new audiences to play to, and less competition, they hope to make enough money to pay off their debts back home. But will their plans be foiled by the odious Olio Sleevery? It’s time for young actors Rosie and Charlie to save the day – and, with the help of their new friend Edie Boiler, ensure the thunderous success of the company’s first performance.

A wonderful gallery of eccentric characters and an exuberant plot with a twist at the end ... this is storytelling at its theatrical best!

“French is a writer of tremendous charm… Children of nine and upwards will want to jump aboard.” The Literary Review

“Vivian French is a sublime storyteller.” Sunday Telegraph

“A classic-feeling, satisfying story, full of transporting Victorian detail.” The Guardian
“…a delightful kind of old-fashioned storytelling… The story inspires sympathy for the hard-working and the kind, and disdain for spoilt children and greedy rogues. It builds satisfyingly to an ending in which the good find friends and salvation and the bad get their just deserts. It would be a treat to read aloud at bedtime, especially for anyone able to do actorly declamations, and, with its edge-of-your-seat pace, it deserves applause.” Sunday Times, Children’s Book of the Week
“[…] storytelling at its best… a classic in the making.” The Scotsman
“A standing ovation for Vivian French.” Books For Keeps, 5 star review
French is a writer of tremendous charm, her world at once comedic and believable. Philip Womack, Literary Review

Vivian French is a highly acclaimed children's author who has written more than 250 books during the course of her career, including Caterpillar, Butterfly, The Tales from the Five Kingdoms series and Yucky Worms. Her recent work includes The Most Wonderful Thing in the World, The Adventures of Alfie Onion and The Cherry Pie Princess. Vivian teaches on the illustration course at Edinburgh School of Art, and helped to found the mentoring scheme Picture Hooks for aspiring young illustrators. In 2016 Viv was awarded the MBE for literature, literacy, illustration and the arts. She lives in Edinburgh. Follow Viv on Twitter under the handle @fivekingdoms, or visit her at her website:

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