Free Family Theatre Comes to the Steam Museum
New event programme introduced as venue celebrates fundraising milestone
The show is staged in the courtyard by The Arts Centre Hounslow. Picture: London Museum of Water & Steam
August 20, 2025
A new outdoor theatre programme at the London Museum of Water & Steam is offering families a splash of storytelling this summer, with performances running through to the end of August. Created by The Arts Centre Hounslow, the show takes place in the Museum’s Splash Zone and is free with general admission.
The production, which premiered earlier this month, follows the journey of Stevie, a train who has lost her steam, and a lively water droplet who helps her find it. With music, puppetry, and interactive storytelling, the 30-minute show invites children to help shape the ending, making each performance unique. Shows run Wednesday to Sunday at 11am and 1pm, with an additional 3pm slot on weekends. An extra date has been added for the bank holiday Monday on 25 August in response to demand.
Museum staff say the theatre offering is part of a broader effort to engage local families during the school holidays. The programme is designed to complement the Museum’s wider educational and heritage remit, which includes exhibitions, guided tours, and hands-on activities exploring London’s water infrastructure.
Alongside its summer programming, the Museum has announced the successful completion of its “Reopen the Standpipe Tower” fundraising campaign. The appeal, launched earlier this year, aimed to raise £15,000 to restore public access to the 1867-built tower — the tallest surviving standpipe tower in the world with its original pipework intact.
The Museum confirmed this week that the target has been met, thanks to community donations and match funding from a private donor. The restoration will address internal decay and contamination, including the removal of hazardous guano left by pigeons during the pandemic. Once reopened, the tower will offer panoramic views across Brentford, Kew Gardens, and central London.
The Museum hopes the project will enhance its long-term sustainability by adding a new visitor attraction to its historic site. Work is expected to begin later this year.
For more information on the theatre programme and the Standpipe Tower restoration, visit the London Museum of Water & Steam’s website.
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