‘Storylines Live’ is a night of poetry, songs and films that have been inspired by life today along the world’s oldest public passenger railway.

Live poetry, music and films from award-winning poets, songwriters and filmmakers (including – left to right – Sam Slatcher, Felicity Machnicki, Lizzie Lovejoy, Carmen Marcus and Becci Sharrock) are coming to The Forum Music Centre in Darlington this September. And this burst of creativity has been inspired by the passengers that travel today along the world’s first public passenger railway. It’s true! All these pieces have bubbled up from a series of artist residencies on board Northern train services between Bishop Auckland and Saltburn, along parts of the original Stockton & Darlington Railway, and they will be performed on the 198th anniversary of this world-famous line. Opened in 1825, the original line is the world’s first locomotive-powered public railway, which changed the way the world trades, travels and communicates.

Storylines Live, Wednesday 27 September, The Forum Music Centre, Darlington, 7.30pm, £10/£8, theforumonline.co.uk