“It’s about power,” says Harriet Walter, the 75-year-old theatrical legend, on the first hot day of an English summer, finger sandwich in hand, as the yellowing fields of West Sussex drift past the train windows behind her. “The regime change, the morality of war…,” she continues, dressed in a floor-length Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda gown, “…the brutal decisions that have to be made.”
Actor Archie Madekwe leans in, captivated by her take on Phyllida Lloyd’s all-female Julius Caesar, which opens in Stratford this November with Walter as Brutus. Madekwe, 31, is already deep into his run of Simon Stone’s The Oresteia at London’s The Bridge.
When Madekwe lets slip to the actors aboard Belmond’s beautifully Art Deco British Pullman—taken over today by Vogue to celebrate the launch of a new carriage designed by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin—that he has secretly filmed a Madonna video with Kate Moss and Benedict Cumberbatch, they pounce on him like he’s fresh meat.
The group of productions represented in this story will define the theatrical calendar this autumn. There’s Brian Cox (delightfully grumpy in The Score, coming to Washington, DC, in September), Letitia Wright (appearing in the newsroom play The Story at the National), Mason Alexander Park (with an angelic voice and scene-stealing presence in Broadway’s Much Ado About Nothing, in previews from October), Sadie Soverall (a standout in the London production of John Proctor Is the Villain, which returns for another West End run early next year), and Josephine Thiesen (who recently played Alice in a staging of Alice in Wonderland in Hamburg, and will soon appear in Tom Ford’s next film, Cry to Heaven).
The shoot is a fashion play: lovers, schemers, ingenues, villains, braggarts, all directed by photographer Annie Leibovitz. Actor Luke Thompson, dozing in a brocade chair (and soon to star opposite Keira Knightley in The Lives of Others at the Adelphi), sums it up best: “With film and TV, you’re not there when the audience is unwrapping their present. In theater—that charged feeling. It’s electric.”
He smiles, watching Park take a turn through the carriage in magenta Valentino couture. “You have to really believe in it.”
In this story: makeup, Lisa Houghton; manicurist, Michelle Humphrey; tailor, Della George.
Produced by Farago Projects. Production Design: Mary Howard. Set Decoration: Lee Flude.
Special thanks to British Pullman, A Belmond Train, England.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about this unique fashion and theatre experience ranging from the basics to more specific details
General Concept Questions
Q What exactly is this fashion journey on a train
A Its a unique immersive event where a luxury train is transformed by director Baz Luhrmann and designer Catherine Martin West End theatre stars perform live on board while you travel blending the glamour of a fashion show with the drama of live musical theatre
Q Who are Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin
A They are a worldfamous creative couple known for visually stunning films like Moulin Rouge The Great Gatsby and Romeo Juliet They are masters of creating extravagant fashionforward worlds and they are designing the entire look and feel of this train experience
Q Is this a normal train ride or is it a show
A Its both You will travel on a real luxurious train route but the journey itself is the show The carriages are designed like a film set and the West End performers will move through the train singing and performing as you travel
Q Where does the train go
A While specific routes vary the concept is to offer a scenic stylish journey through the English countryside Its less about the destination and more about the immersive experience on board often departing from and returning to London
Q Do I need to be a hardcore theatre fan to enjoy this
A Not at all If you love fashion design luxury travel or just want a unique and memorable day out youll enjoy it The performances are worldclass but the visual spectacle and the atmosphere are the main attractions
Tickets Pricing Logistics
Q How much do tickets cost
A Expect premium pricing This is a luxury allinclusive experience Tickets typically cost several hundred pounds per person reflecting the highend catering the star performers and the bespoke design Its comparable to a toptier theatre ticket plus a finedining experience
Q Whats included in the ticket price