brief encounter tour 2022

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Cast Announced for Brief Encounter

Performances at the SJT: 22 July to 27 August 2022 Performances at Theatre by the Lake: 14 September to 8 October 2022 Performances at Octagon Theatre: 20 October to 5 November 2022

You can download images of the cast of Brief Encounter here: [link]

Noël Coward’s Brief Encounter Adapted for the stage by Emma Rice Director: Paul Robinson Cast: Pete Ashmore, Joey Hickman, Robert Jackson, Lara Lewis, Natasha Lewis, Rishi Manuel, Anne-Marie Piazza Musicians: Alex Whetherhill and Shelagh Revell Designed by Jessica Curtis Composer and Sound Designer: Simon Slater Lighting Design by Sally Ferguson Associate Director and Movement Director: Erin Carter Assistant Director: Nicole Joseph Casting Director: Sarah Hughes CDG

Casting has been announced for a new production of Noël Coward’s Brief Encounter, adapted for the stage by Emma Rice, at Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre this summer in a co-production with Octagon Theatre Bolton and Theatre by the Lake, Keswick.

Pete Ashmore, Joey Hickman, Robert Jackson, Lara Lewis, Natasha Lewis, Rishi Manuel and Anne-Marie Piazza will be directed by Paul Robinson in Rice’s playful adaptation which turns Coward’s film inside out, adding joyous musical numbers and physical comedy while still maintaining the classic romance of the original.

“Please tell me honestly if what I believe is true… that it’s the same with you – that you’ve fallen in love too.”

Laura and Alec are married – but not to each other. A chance meeting at a railway station hurls them headlong into a whirlwind romance that threatens to blow their worlds apart. Will they give in to love’s first rush and risk everything? Has this relationship changed the tracks of their lives forever?

Jane Eyre is designed by Jessica Curtis. The composer and Sound Designer is Simon Slater, and lighting design is by Sally Ferguson. The Associate Director and Movement Director is Erin Carter, and the Assistant Director is Nicole Joseph. Casting is by Sarah Hughes CDG

Brief Encounter can be seen in the Round at the SJT on from Friday 22 July to Saturday 27 August 2022. It will then be performed at Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake from Wednesday 14 September to Saturday 8 October 2022 and at Octagon Theatre Bolton from Thursday 20 October to Saturday 5 November 2022.

Tickets for the show at the SJT, priced from £10, are available from the box office on 01723 370541 and online at www.sjt.uk.com

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Brief Encounter

Performed from wed 26 apr — sat 13 may.

'Brief Encounter,' credit: Warehouse Digital

'The Cinema Song' by Tom Self, filming by Warehouse Digital

Noël Coward’s 'Brief Encounter' Adapted for the stage by Emma Rice A dazzling musical adaptation of the greatest love story of all time. When a chance encounter in a train station refreshment room kindles a timid, yet passionate, love affair between a married doctor and a suburban housewife, the two are forced to question if it’s worth risking everything for the sake of love. Tender and joyous, this show has all the drama of the original masterpiece with added live music, comedy and spectacle, taking you on a rollercoaster ride through all of love’s beautiful complications. 'Brief Encounter' is adapted by award-winning theatre-maker Emma Rice, directed by the New Wolsey Theatre’s new Chief Executive Douglas Rintoul ('Made in Dagenham,' 'Private Lives' and 'All My Sons') and brought to you by the producers behind 'The Ladykillers' and 'The Worst Wedding Ever.' A New Wolsey Theatre and Wiltshire Creative Production, in association with Yvonne Arnaud Theatre. 'Brief Encounter' has an age guidance of 12+ and contains smoking, loud noises, moments of audience interaction and moderate sex references. Please note: Throughout the show, several of the cast will play more than one role. There will also be loud sound effects throughout, including waves crashing, train noises, bells ringing, wind blowing, thunder and music. You can view and download the full Content Warning for the show from the link below (please note that it contains spoilers).

Cast & Creatives

Nicola bryan — myrtle bagot.

Nicola trained at the Birmingham School of Speech & Drama, gaining a BA (Hons) degree in Acting and Musical Theatre.

Credits include: Olive Osmond in The Osmonds (UK Tour); Fleshcreep in Jack and the Beanstalk (New Wolsey, Ipswich); Rosie in Mamma Mia – Movies In The Park (Abu Dhabi); Mavis in No ël Coward’s Me & The Girls (Regional Tour); Fairy Godmother in Cinderella (Arts Depot, London); Carmen in Sweet Charity (Watermill Theatre); Eileen in Our Blue Heaven (New Wolsey, Ipswich); Mum in Who To Follow (New Wolsey, Ipswich); Swing & u/s Sister Mary Patrick & Mother Superior in Sister Act (UK Tour); Freda Woodward/Val in Tom The Musical (UK Tour); Carmen in Sweet Charity (New Wolsey, Ipswich); Kit Kat Girl in Cabaret (MAC, Belfast); Heather in Our House (UK Tour); Dreamboats & Petticoats (Playhouse, West End); Rita & u/s Rosa & Mary in David Essex's All The Fun Of The Fair (UK Tour 2008/2009); Lambchops & u/s Serena, Mabel and Miss Bell in Fame (Edinburgh Playhouse and UK Tour); Lambchops in Fame (Pattichoun Amphitheatre, Cyprus); Beauty in Beauty & The Beast (Coventry Belgrade); Venetian Masquerade (Millennium Point, Birmingham); Swing & u/s Pam in The Full Monty (UK Tour); Jack & The Beanstalk (Potters Bar, London); Sleeping Beauty (Stevenage & Chatham); Dick Whittington (New Wolsey, Ipswich); Return To The Forbidden Planet (Theatre Royal, Lincoln); Jack & The Beanstalk, Beauty & The Beast (New Wolsey, Ipswich); West End Girls (Jersey Opera House); KOBA – Man of Steel originating the role of Nadezdha (Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham).

For more information about Nicola, please visit:

www.accessuk.agency

www.nicolabryan.com

@TheNicolaBryan

Hanora Kamen — Laura Jesson

Credits include: A Gig for Ghosts (Soho Theatre with 45 North); The Ballad of Maria Marten (Wiltons Music Hall, UK Tour); Mog: The Forgetful Cat (The Royal & Derngate with The Old Vic); Five Children and It (The Egg, Theatre Royal Bath); Winners (The Wardrobe Ensemble); Riot (Bristol Old Vic); 1972: The Future of Sex (Bristol Old Vic), Education, Education, Education (Trafalgar Studios); The Wind in the Willows (The Core at Corby Cube); Eloise and the Curse of the Golden Whisk (The Wardrobe Theatre, UK Tour); Edgar and the Land of the Lost (The Bike Shed Theatre); Pippi Longstocking (Royal & Derngate); Rebellion Playground (The Exeter Phoenix); The Snow Beast (UK Tour); Great Train Robbery (UK Tour); Nel (UK Tour); A Fool’s Proof (Scratchworks Theatre Company, UK Tour); Chloe and the Colour Catcher (Theatre Ad Infinitum with Bristol Old Vic); C Word Clubhouse (Bristol Old Vic); Blok/eko (Exeter Northcott).

TV: The Undeclared War (Channel 4); Breadline (BBC Four); Mimi’s World (Channel 5).

Radio: The Flock (A Ton of Feathers).

Jammy Kasongo — Dr Alec Harvey

Jammy Kasongo’s previous credits include: Tina (The Aldwych Theatre); Cassette (Parkhouse Pictures); Tina (The Aldwych Theatre); Hair (Waterloo Vaults); Beautiful The Carole King Musical (The Aldwych Theatre); The Truth About Anna (BBC Radio 4); The Grand Hotel (Southwark Playhouse); Superior Donuts (Capitol Stage Sacramento CA).

Samuel Morgan-Grahame — Albert Godby

Training: The MTA, Arts Educational Schools London and Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Credits include: Most recently, 101 Dalmatians  (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Joseph in  Amelie  (West End/UK No. 1 Tour/Watermill Theatre); Herman in  Sweet Charity  (Watermill Theatre); Joey in  Sister Act  (UK No. 1 Tour); Lucius in  Titus Andronicus , Bianco in  The Taming of the Shrew  (New Wimbledon);  Grim  (Charing Cross Theatre); Eldest Magician in  Just So  (Bridewell Theatre);  Cool Rider Live  (Lyric Theatre);  Island Song  (St James Theatre).

As Musical Director/Composer:   Anna Karenina  (Brockley Jack);  Jericho Creek  (Cockpit Theatre);  Saucy Jacks and the Space Vixens  (Kings Head);  The Winter’s Tale  (Lion and Unicorn);  Taming of the Shrew  (New Wimbledon).

Tom Self — Fred Jesson/Stephen Lynn

Training:   Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance (Leverhulme Musical Theatre Trust Scholar).

Theatre credits include:   Bert in  The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾  (Queen’s Theatre; Hornchurch); Bearsted in  Ordinary People  (Parkwood Theatres);  Sir Dinadan/Show Musical Director in  Camelot  (Watermill);  Barefoot in the Park  (Pitlochry Festival Theatre);  Robin Hood  (Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch), Musical Director/Ronnie in  Noël Coward’s: Me and The Girls (UK Tour); Union Chairman/Onstage Musical Director in  The Hired Man  (Hull Truck, Oldham Coliseum & Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, 2019 Offie Award Nomination); Sweet Charity (Watermill); Associate Musical Director for  Murder for Two  (Watermill/UK Tour/The Other Palace); Farrah Fawcett In/Onstage Musical Director in  Priscilla Queen of the Desert  (Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, 2018 Offie Award Finalist); The Tramp/Onstage Musical Director in  Salad Days  (Theatre Royal Bath/Union Theatre); Musical Director of  Aladdin, Peter Pan ,  Beauty & The Beast  (Malvern Theatres, UK Productions); Musical Supervisor/Musical Director of  Aladdin,   Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Jack & The Beanstalk, Peter Pan  (Parkwood Theatres).

Tom recently wrote original music and lyrics for  Aladdin  and  Sleeping Beauty  (Offie Finalist, Best Pantomime) at Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch.

@tomandhistaps.

Lucy Elizabeth Thorburn — Beryl

Lucy trained at the London College of Music.

Previous credits include: Jack and the Beanstalk (The Newbury Corn Exchange);  Kinky Boots (The New Wolsey and Queen’s Theatre);  SMOOSH! (Paraorchestra);  Jekyll and Hyde (The National Theatre).

Luke Thornton — Stanley

Luke trained as an Actor Musician at Rose Bruford College. His many varied instrument skills include: drums, bass, guitar and harmonica.

He is delighted to be returning to the New Wolsey Theatre and joining the cast of Dick Whittington .

Stage credits include: Romeo in Romeo & Juliet (440 Theatre UK Tour), Stanley in Brief Encounter (New Wolsey Theatre & UK Tour), Bobo the Clown in Goldilocks (New Wolsey Theatre), Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Scoot Theatre UK Tour), Nigel in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole the Musical (Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch), Steven/Tony Sharpe in Love Letters (Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch), One-Eye in Weapons of the Weak (The Other Palace), Cheever in The Crucible (Pitlochry Festival Theatre), Ensemble in Midnight (Union Theatre, Southwark), Edwin in Summer Holiday (Octagon Theatre Bolton and Pitlochry Festival Theatre), Various roles in Beauty and the Beast , The Panto That Nearly Never Was , Jack and the Beanstalk , Dick Whittington , Sleeping Beauty , Aladdin (Theatr Clwyd), Solo Singer in Welsh Musical Theatre Orchestra - A Night at the Musicals (Congress Theatre), Onstage Swing/1st cover Willard in Footloose (UK Tour), Douggie in Dusty (Charing Cross Theatre)

Luke also sings as part of the Four Harmonies (Jersey Boys Tribute) and has sang as a soloist at the Royal Albert Hall and Sydney Opera House.

Chioma Uma — Dolly Messiter

  Chioma’s credits include: Cinderella The Rockin’ Panto!  (New Wolsey Theatre/ArtsDepot);  Kiss Me Kate, Camelot, Othello  (The Watermill Theatre);  BBC Doctor Who: Time Fracture  (Hartshorn Hook Productions);  Dirty Dancing  (Secret Cinema);  Robin Hood, The Panto That Nearly Never Was  (Theatr Clwyd).

Jessie Addinall — Lighting Designer

Jessie is a Hull-based lighting designer. Alongside this, they are also associate lighting designer for The Roaring Girls and was an ALPD Lumiere (2020).

Their credits include:  Children of the Night (CAST); Ladies Day (The New Vic & The Octagon Theatre); Jack, Mum and The Beanstalk (Hull Truck Theatre); Macbeth, Twelfth Night (Leeds Conservatoire); Ladies Unleashed (Hull Truck Theatre) ; The Whispering Jungle (Concrete Youth); A Midsummer Night's Dream (Hull Truck Theatre) ; Teechers Leavers 22’ (Hull Truck Theatre); The Hound of The Baskervilles (ERT Theatre); we used to be closer than this (Middle Child); Hull and High Water (Hull Truck); Everything I Own (Hull Truck); Prince Charming’s Christmas Cracker (Hull Truck); Ducklings (The Herd) ; Beauty Queen of Leenane (Hull Truck Theatre); The Canary and The Crow (Middle Child); Beach Body Ready (The Roaring Girls); Paragon Dreams (Hull Truck); Us Against Whatever (Middle Child); The Ugly Duckling (The Herd in Association with Hull Truck); TEN (Hull Truck).

Associate Credits include: Dogs (Liverpool Playhouse); 71 Coltman Street (Hull Truck Theatre); Megalith (Mechanimal); Shedding a Skin (SOHO Theatre).

James Cook — Sound Designer

James won 'Best Sound Design' at the Panto Awards in 2019 and was also nominated for the 2022 Awards. He has extensive experience with actor-musician based musicals and enjoys overcoming the challenges that arise with the complex format. James has also worked on plays with immersive soundscapes and a dash of modest composition, in many regional theatres including the New Wolsey Theatre, Yvonne Arnaud and Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch to name a few. He has also designed for many commercial national touring shows.

Along with the aural aspects of Sound Design, James enjoys creating the design of the system and technical aspects that combine to create the experience for the audience. Find out more at  www.james-cook.me .

Jess Curtis — Set & Costume Designer

Jess trained at Motley.

Recent work includes: Vincent River (The Bridge Theatre, Brussels); A Postcard From Morrocco (Dutch National Opera Academy); Jekyll And Hyde (Derby); Brief Encounter (Stephen Joseph Theatre); Genesis Inc. (Hampstead Theatre); Loosing Venice (The Orange Tree Theatre); Uncle Vanya (The Almeida); Villette , Dangerous Corner (West Yorkshire Playhouse); POD , Provok’d (devised at Guildhall School); Kiss Me Quickstep , Haunting Julia , Love Letters (The Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch); One For The Road , Glass Cage , Follies (Royal and Derngate, Northampton); The Holy Rosenbergs (National Theatre); Hotel Cerise (Theatre Royal, Stratford East); Another Door Closed (Theatre Royal Bath); Endgame (Liverpool Everyman); Dangerous Corner (West Yorkshire Playhouse and West End); Frankenstein (Frantic Assembly, Northampton); Burial at Thebes (Nottingham Playhouse/Barbican/US Tour); Rhapsody , Fantasy (Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House).

She has also designed the Grovesnor Park Open Air Season 2013 - 2016/2021, the opening season at Storyhouse and bar interiors for Underbelly at the South Bank, Hyde Park and Leicester Square.

She is part of the Society of British Theatre’s Sustainability working group.

Daniel Denton — Video Designer

Daniel Denton is a London-based visual artist and video designer. With a background in illustration and experimental film, he has created live visuals across theatre, opera, dance, fashion, broadcast, and installation, and his video design work has garnered him multiple award nominations. Recent credits include  Kinky Boots  (New Wolsey/Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch);  Happy Meal  (Traverse/Australian Tour/Brixton House);  Hedwig and the Angry Inch  (Leeds Playhouse/HOME Manchester);  The Bone Sparrow  (York Theatre Royal/UK tour);  iGirl, On Raftery’s Hill  (Abbey Theatre);  For The Grace of You Go I  (Theatre Clwyd);  Whitewash  (Soho Theatre);  Flashdance  (UK Tour/South Korean Tour);  Sketching  (Wilton’s Music Hall);  Ready or Not  (Arcola Theatre/UK Tour);  Misty  (Bush Theatre/Trafalgar Studios).

Nominations include WhatsOnStage Award for Best Video Design ( Misty ); Broadway World UK Award for Best Video Design ( Happy Meal ); Off West End Award for Best Video Design ( Misty, Sketching ); Theatre and Technology Award for Creative Innovation in Video ( Ready or Not ).

Margaret Lock — Wardrobe Supervisor

Debbie o'brien — casting director.

West End/UK Tours include: The Choir of Man; Dirty Dancing; Thriller Live; American Idiot; Knights of the Rose; 20th Century Boy; The Knowledge; Close to You; Priscilla Queen of the Desert; Sinatra; Our House; Starlight Express; Mum’s the Word; Jackie; I Was a Rat; Grease; The Snowman, Flashdance; The King and I; Showboat; Dancing in the Streets; The Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas; Daisy Pulls It Off; The Harder They Come; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; Saturday Night Fever; Fame; Peter Pan; The Pirates of Penzance; Smokey Joe’s Café; The Rocky Horror Show; Doctor In the House; Mahabharata; Anything Goes; What a Feeling; A Chorus Line; A Tribute to the Blues Brothers.

Regional and international productions include: Tony! The Tony Blair Rock Opera; Trio; Playboy of the West Indies; The Birds and the Bees; Never Lost at Home; Friends! The Musical Parody; Hugh Jackman The Show; Cruel Intentions; Friends the Musical Parody; Menopause the Musical; Starlight Express; Once; We’ll Live and Die In These Towns; The Noise Boys; Kinky Boots; Million Dollar Quartet,; Jersey Boys; Rock of Ages; Room; Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin; Oxy and the Morons; The Last Five Years; Five Guys Named Moe; The BFG.

Children’s casting includes: Waitress; The King and I; Avalanche; The Bodyguard; Caroline or Change; Annie; Medea; The Sound of Music.

Recorded media includes: Mimi’s World; Waybuloo; Grandpa In My Pocket; What’s Your News; Planet Cook.

Douglas Rintoul — Director

Douglas is an award-winning theatre-maker and cultural leader. He was born in Suffolk, grew up in Essex, read Drama and Theatre Arts at the University of Birmingham and was awarded a bursary on the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme to Salisbury Playhouse where he trained as a director. He is the Chief Executive/Artistic Director of the New Wolsey Theatre, was the Artistic Director of Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch (2015 - 2022), founder of the national touring theatre company Transport (2010 - 2017), and an associate of Complicité (2004 - 2010).

Alexzandra Sarmiento — Choreographer

Theatre: 42 Balloons (Vaudeville Theatre); But I’m A Cheerleader (Turbine Theatre).

Projects in development include: The Children’s Inquiry (LUNG Theatre); ICON: The K-Pop Musical (Carter Dixon McGill).

Other creative credits include: Bonnie & Clyde - Garrick Theatre (as associate director & choreographer); Dare You Say Please - King's Head Theatre (as director); We're Few And Far Between - White Bear Theatre (as director); Chess in concert - Theatre Royal Drury Lane (as associate director & choreographer); Fangirls - UK development for SFP (as associate choreographer); Legally Blonde - Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre (as assistant choreographer); Bonnie & Clyde in concert - Theatre Royal Drury Lane (as assistant director); In The Heights - King’s Cross Theatre (as associate choreographer).

Tom Self — Music Direction, Orchestration and Additional Music Composition

• Download your FREE DIGITAL PROGRAMME here!
• Find out more about the Noël Coward Foundation
• Watch the British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted flyer for the show here!
• Download the full Content Warning for the show here. Warning: contains spoilers!
• Listen to the Audio Described flyer here!
• Audio Description Recording - Introduction
• Audio Description Recording - The Set
• Audio Description Recording - The Characters
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• Download Audio Description Recordings Here
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Reviews of Brief Encounter

What the press say.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 'Flawless' EADT

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An ambitious and joyous visual feast not to be missed' Experience Salisbury

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'HILARIOUSLY entertaining but beautifully nostalgic' Salisbury Journal

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Theatre and Art Reviews

What the public say

Brilliant adaption, excellent talented acting. Audience Feedback

Very good interpretation. Loved it. Audience Feedback

Just wonderful, this was so perfect. Audience Feedback

Hugely entertaining and engaging performance by all cast members. Enjoyed the pre-show musical extravaganza in the upstairs bar area. It really set the nostalgic tones which followed through in the show. Very creative. Clare Fox

This is a fantastic show, starring multi-talented actor/musicians. It has romance, humour and some great musical numbers. Although set in the past its themes are very much up to date, and although the ending is bittersweet we can all empathise with the two main characters. A clever set and brilliant sound effects too - a must-see production! Sue Woolgar

Absolutely fabulous show. Amazing adaption, from emotion to light-hearted interactions. Seen it 4 times to date - and I am sure a couple more to follow. Not to be missed if you appreciate the original Brief Encounter - this is highly recommended, from start to finish and abundance of talent and brilliant casting. You really feel it all Penny Harris

Absolutely loved this production and especially the staging of it. It really caught you up in the emotion of the story which was played out by the wonderful acting and musical talents of the whole cast. Tracey

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Brief Encounter

After a short tour of its co-producers—and following the sell-out run of The Book Thief, which is a tough act to follow—this new production of Emma Rice’s adaptation of Brief Encounter arrives in Bolton.

The original Kneehigh production was a spectacular West End show that toured to big stages, but director Paul Robinson and designer Jessica Curtis have made it much more intimate with their adaptation to an in-the-round format, which works especially well on stages such as Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre and the adaptable space here at the Octagon.

The play originates in a short Noël Coward play called Still Life from 1936 which became the famous David Lean film in 1945. Emma Rice added some Noël Coward songs, the better-known numbers being “No Good At Love” / “So Good At Love”, “Mad About the Boy” and “A Room with a View”, and gave a little more prominence to some of the lesser characters; while Laura and Alec are still at the heart of the story, we see the blossoming of two other very different relationships: railway station tea room manageress Myrtle (Natasha Lewis) who tries to pretend she is resistant to the charms of station guard Albert (Robert Jackson) and young tea room assistant Beryl (Lara Lewis) who is smitten with cheeky confectionary vendor Stanley (Joey Hickman).

Over this, we get the familiar story of furtive, middle-aged, middle-class love between housewife Laura (Anne-Marie Piazza) and doctor Alec (Pete Ashmore) who act like lovesick teenagers after meeting in the station tea room when he removes a piece of grit from her eye, and they end up agreeing to meet every Thursday afternoon. Their becoming closer is signified by a lighting change and a falling motion to the sound of the sea, while Beryl and Stanley become closer through dance and Myrtle and Albert have a passionate musical battle, him on saxophone and her on trombone.

The musical numbers fit seamlessly with the action and often still have that distinctive Kneehigh sound, despite originating with Coward and being arranged by this production’s composer and sound designer Simon Slater. Musicians Alex Weatherhill on piano and Maximillian Lamprecht on double bass provide backing, often supplemented by the multitalented cast on various instruments. Of course the famous Rachmaninov Piano Concerto Number 2, such a distinctive part of the film, makes an appearance at the end of each act and is no less effective here.

The set is basically the station tea room, but it adapts swiftly to become the restaurant, Laura’s family home or Alec’s friend’s flat, but can also become something more symbolic with railway tracks or stars shining out of the floor (lighting designer Sally Ferguson).

The balance of passion, humour and music with a mixture of realism and pure theatricality is just what you’d expect from Rice and this production has brought out the best in the piece. It’s a joyful piece of theatre and I found myself smiling all the way through it.

Reviewer: David Chadderton

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Brief Encounter review – sparkling revival of Emma Rice’s forbidden romance

Watermill theatre, Newbury Polished production brings Rice’s innovative adaptation of the classic film to life, with an electric central partnership and personality to spare

E mma Rice’s esteemed adaptation of David Lean’s classic 1945 film, Brief Encounter , that merged elements of the Noël Coward one-act play, Still Life, was first performed by Kneehigh in 2008 and widely praised for its innovativeness. Thirteen years later, in a new production directed by Robert Kirby for The Watermill theatre, it manages to be just as engaging.

After an accidental meeting in the train station cafe, reputable housewife Laura and local doctor Alec tumble into a passionate, forbidden love. Both are married, but neither can deny the chemistry. “You could never be dull,” Alec tells her, transfixed. Absorbingly played by Laura Lake Adebisi and Callum McIntyre, we root for their electric partnership, despite their infidelity.

In this sparkling revival, the couple’s love feels urgent and all encompassing. Their stolen time together moves quickly, but each moment is savoured. They beg for the refreshment room to remain open “a few minutes longer”. The days between their weekly meeting feel laboured and slow. In the scenes Laura shares with her husband, Fred (Charles Angiama), the sound of an unhurried, ticking clock underscores their conversation, while her time with Alec is accompanied by wild, romantic music played live on violins. The contrast between the relationships is stark.

In Kirby’s production, everything looks polished. The supporting actors swap between characters, costumes and a variety of instruments seamlessly. Kate Milner-Evans’s Myrtle Bagot is bursting with personality as she pours out cups of tea for comedic effect, with her short embodiment of a spoilt child, Margot, being another of the night’s standouts.

Coward’s songs, too, feel like a natural extension of the spoken drama. Hanna Khogali’s rendition of Mad About the Boy, as the giddy Beryl, is a marvel – her high notes impressive but never too showy.

Staged within a notably slick moving set designed by Harry Pizzey, the 1930s world gracefully comes alive. When a translucent curtain, echoing unforgotten memory, is drawn between the lovers in the play’s final moments, it is genuinely moving. This Brief Encounter is not one that will be forgotten fast.

Brief Encounter is at the Watermill theatre, Newbury, until 13 November .

• Noel Coward
• Watermill theatre
• Film adaptations

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Most viewed.

A National Theatre, Wise Children, Bristol Old Vic & York Theatre Royal co-production

Wise children's.

WUTHERING HEIGHTS

based on the novel by Emily Brontë

adapted and directed by Emma Rice

About the show

The Yorkshire moors tell an epic story of love, revenge and redemption. 

Rescued from the Liverpool docks as a child, Heathcliff is adopted by the Earnshaws and taken to live at Wuthering Heights. He finds a kindred spirit in Catherine Earnshaw and a fierce love ignites. When forced apart, a brutal chain of events is unleashed.

Shot through with music, dance, passion and hope, Emma Rice (Romantics Anonymous, Brief Encounter) transforms Emily Brontë’s masterpiece into a powerful and uniquely theatrical experience. 

Lucy McCormick and Liam Tamne lead the company of performers and musicians in this intoxicating revenge tragedy for our time. 

Adapted and directed by Emma Rice. Composer Ian Ross. Set and costume Vicki Mortimer. Sound and Video Simon Baker. Lighting Jai Morjaria. Movement and Choreography Etta Murfitt. 

TOUR DATES & VENUES

UK TOUR 2021/2022

Bristol Old Vic – October/November 2021

York Theatre Royal – 9th - 20th November 2021

National Theatre, London – 3rd February - 19th March 2022

Hall for Cornwall – 29th March - 9th April 2022 

Norwich Theatre Royal – 12th - 16th April 2022 

Nottingham Theatre Royal – 26th - 30th April 2022

The Lowry, Salford – 3rd -7th May 2022

Brighton Festival – 17th - 21st May 2022

King's Theatre Edinburgh – 24th - 28th May 2022

INTERNATIONAL TOUR 2022/2023

St Ann's Warehouse, New York - 14th Oct - 6th Nov 2022

Berkeley Rep, California - 18th Nov - 2nd Jan 2023 

Wallis Annenberg, California - 11th Jan - 22nd 2023

Chicago Shakespeare Theater - 27th Jan - 18th Feb 2023

McCarter Theatre Center - 23rd Feb - 12th March 2023

DeLaMar - Amsterdam - 8th - 18th June 2023

Wuthering Heights is currently off the road but still  available  to watch on Sky Glass or NOW TV

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Brief Encounter

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No Strapline

Brief Encounter

Wednesday 7 september–saturday 10 september 2022.

Original screenplay by Noël Coward Adapted for the stage by Emma Rice Directed by Paul Robinson

“Please tell me honestly if what I believe is true… that it’s the same with you – that you’ve fallen in love too.”

Laura and Alec are married – but not to each other. A chance meeting at a railway station hurls them headlong into a whirlwind romance that threatens to blow their worlds apart. Will they give in to love’s first rush and risk everything? Has this relationship changed the tracks of their lives forever?

This playful production turns Noël Coward’s film Brief Encounter inside out, adding joyous musical numbers and physical comedy, while still maintaining the truly classic romance of the original.

Socially-distanced performances

Thursday 8 September at 2.15pm and 7.30pm

Approx running times

2.15pm – 4.20pm

7.30pm – 9.35pm

Dates & Times

British Sign Language - BSL

Audio Described - AD

Captioned - CAP

Relaxed Performance - RP

Brief Encounter

16 june to 29 september.

By  Noël Coward

Adapted for the stage by  Emma Rice

Original music composed by  Stu Barker

Respectable housewife Laura and idealistic doctor Alec meet by chance at a railway station. Although they are both already married, they continue to meet every Thursday in the station café. Their friendship soon develops into something more emotionally fulfilling than either expected, and they wrestle with the potential havoc their deepening relationship would have on their lives and the lives of those they love.

As they come to realise that their love is impossible, they must deal with the torment that comes from a love doomed never to find fulfilment.

Get ready to be transported to another time, another place by this delightful and joyful adaptation of a true classic romance.

Show timings 

Interval 2.40pm

Finish 3.45pm

Interval 8.40m

Finish 9.45pm

To learn more about the life and work of Noël Coward, and to sign up to the official newsletter, visit  www.noelcoward.com

Instagram  @sirnoelcoward

Facebook  Noël Coward

TikTok @sirnoelcoward

Joseph Tweedale

Keith macpherson, kirsty stuart, kristin weichen wong, matthew churcher, matthew trevannion, rachael mcallister, festival friend membership.

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Our 2023 Accessible Shows

Relaxed performances.

16 September – matinee

Captioned Performances

27 July – matinee

Audio Description Performances

31 August – evening

• Bellowhead 7.2015
• Sam Lee & Friends
• Jimmy Cliff
• Our Man in Havana
• Romeo and Juliet – NT, 2021

Peter Viney's Blog

Elt, theatre, music reviews, noël coward’s brief encounter review.

07/04/2023 by Peter Viney

Emma Rice adapted BRIEF ENCOUNTER as a stage play in 2007 (LINK TO REVIEW ). This is one of several revivals, directed by Douglas Rintoul, currently at Salisbury Playhouse then touring. It’s somewhere between a play with music and a musical. I think the former. It’s fast moving, funny, beautifully staged. See the review.

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Brief encounter.

Sat 2 Dec 2023 – Sat 13 Jan 2024

The Telegraph

Stage struck, manchester theatres, theatre reviews north, morning star.

Sorry, but this show has sold out.

Running time

2 hours 20 minutes, including a 20 minute interval

This huge beating heart of a musical is perfect for all incurable romantics this Christmas

“I love you – I love you – and you love me too – it’s no use pretending that it hasn’t happened, because it has.”

In a busy railway station, where everyone is simply passing through, Laura and Alec find each other. Falling passionately and wildly in love in a few stolen moments they live and breathe a lifetime of epic emotions, reawakening everything they buried deep inside. Together they find themselves in a bittersweet, hopelessly romantic, elegantly awkward love affair.

A heart-stopping story of forbidden love that moves to the rhythm of beautiful songs, swaying dance moves, the odd cup of tea and a bath bun. Emma Rice’s smash-hit adaptation for stage of Noël Coward’s iconic BRIEF ENCOUNTER is directed by former Royal Exchange Artistic Director Sarah Frankcom (WEST SIDE STORY).

This huge beating heart of a musical is perfect for all incurable romantics this Christmas.

Images and Videos

Matthew Allen

Bobbie/Bill

Hannah Azuonye

Richard glaves.

Albert/Fred/Stephen Lynn

Georgia Frost

Stanley/Jonnie

Christina Modestou

Myrtle/Mary/Waitress

Baker Mukasa

Beryl/Hermione/Dolly/Waitress/Movement Captain

The creative team

By: Noël Coward

Adapted for stage by: Emma Rice

Directed by: Sarah Frankcom

Designer : Rose Revitt

Lighting Designer: Simeon Miller

Sound Designer: Russell Ditchfield

Musical Supervisor/Orchestrator/MD: Matthew Malone

Movement & Intimacy Director: Sundeep Saini

Birkbeck Assistant Director: Amara Heyland

Casting Director: Hannah Miller CDG

Production Manager: Hannah Blamire

Stage Manager: Sarah Smith

Deputy Stage Manager: Mary O'Hanlon

Assistant Stage Manager: Louise Manifold

Set Construction: Splinter Scenery

Sound Mixer: Katerina Petmezas

Sound #2: Louis Fryman

Bass: Alice Phelps

Drums: Jenny Walinetski

Guitar: Sam Quinn

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LtoR Lucy Thackeray as Myrtle, Isabel Pollen as Laura & Jim Sturgeon as Alec in Brief Encounter, credit Steve Tanner

Brief Encounter Extends

Kneehigh’s production of Noël Coward’s Brief Encounter , adapted and directed by Emma Rice, has been extended due to overwhelming public demand and will now run at the Empire Cinema Haymarket in London’s West End until 9 September 2018, ahead of a World tour in 2019.

Brief Encounter is produced by David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers, Jenny & Steve Wiener and The Old Vic and opened in March to rave reviews.

A chance meeting in a railway station café where they were brought together by Laura ‘getting a little piece of grit in my eye’, led to one of the most haunting and heart-breaking love stories ever told.  The award-winning Kneehigh production of Noël Coward’s Brief Encounter , which was originally produced at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, triumphed in the West End in 2008 and subsequently received great critical acclaim on Broadway and went on to tour worldwide.  It was described by Ben Brantley in the New York Times as ‘surely the most enchanting work of stagecraft ever inspired by a movie.’

The cast features Jim Sturgeon as Alec, Isabel Pollen as Laura, Lucy Thackeray as Myrtle, Beverly Rudd as Beryl, Jos Slovick as Stanley and Dean Nolan as Fred/Albert, with Katrina Kleve and Peter Dukes.

Brief Encounter Tickets On Sale Here.

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