Story of Ivor The Engine’s creators... as told by V&A

The V&A is telling the story of Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, who created the series about a singing Welsh locomotive, first broadcast in 1959
“Gems”: Smallfilms’ creations included Ivor The Engine
Robert Dex @RobDexES4 November 2015

Long-lost episodes of children’s television classic Ivor The Engine are steaming their way to the V&A Museum Of Childhood as part of a new exhibition.

The museum is telling the story of Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, who created the series about a singing Welsh locomotive, first broadcast in 1959. Their other animated hits included Bagpuss, Noggin The Nog and The Clangers, which was recently revived by the BBC.

The pair’s studio, based in a barn and converted pigsty in rural Kent, will be recreated at the museum in Bethnal Green. Early black-and-white episodes of Ivor will be shown alongside sets, storyboards and scripts from decades of programme making by their firm, Smallfilms.

Other exhibits include a stop-motion camera built by Postgate, who died aged 83 in 2008, using Meccano and a small motor. Curator Alice Sage said: “Beyond telling marvellous, captivating stories, Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate’s work encouraged children to look at the world with curiosity. Oliver’s distinctive voice as narrator never spoke down to their young audience and they weren’t afraid of dealing with complex ideas in a magical way. The stories have stood the test of time.

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“As well as looking at how these programmes were made, we also hope to capture the spirit of these timeless gems.”

The Clangers, Bagpuss & Co runs from March 19 to October 9.

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