Brief Encounter
Brief Encounter
Directed by Emma Rice
Live on stage at the Empire Cinema in London’s West End.
‘I’m a happily married woman. Or rather I was until a few weeks ago. This is my whole world and it’s enough, or rather it was until a few weeks ago.’
Your heart dances. The world seems strange and new.
You want to laugh and skip and fall forever…
You are in love.
You are in love with the wrong person.
‘That’s how it all began. Just by me getting a little piece of grit in my eye.’
Noël Coward’s Brief Encounter is remembered as one of the most haunting love stories ever. This award-winning Kneehigh production has triumphed in the West End, toured the globe and opened to dazzling reviews on Broadway. It has won the hearts of audiences and critics alike.
‘I want to remember every minute. Always. Always to the end of my days.'
The cast will feature 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.
A Kneehigh Theatre production produced by David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers, Jenny & Steve Wiener and The Old Vic.
- Duration
90 mins without interval
Additional Details & FAQ
- Cancellation Policy
No exchange or refund after purchase.
- How Does It Work
You will receive an email confirmation please print and exchange for your tickets at the venue box office.
- Suitable For Children
Age guidance: 3+ years
- Where Do I Go
Empire Cinema Haymarket
63-65 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RL
Reviews
Anna
Jul 22, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyed this production. Great casting. If you love the film, you’ll love the live production too.
Julie Ross
Jul 22, 2018
Brilliant, very innovative, a tireless performance by the multi talented cast,
Eileen
Jul 22, 2018
What a great show! Entertainment from the musicians/actors whilst getting into our seats and the humour, singing, actors and all round graphics was so good.Thank you. Would come again
Olly Day
Jul 20, 2018
What a theatrical delight from start to finish. Brief Encounter pressed all the emotional buttons as well as laugh out loud moments. A fabulous cast too. GO SEE,
Hazfree
Jul 19, 2018
Saw this about 10 years ago. Thought it was very good again. Anything Emma Rice does is a bit different and interesting. Sorry that the run is ending.
Susan
Jul 18, 2018
We all enjoyed this modern take on the beautiful film. Great use of film, theatre and music in a wonderful and appropriate setting.
Sheila Green
Jul 18, 2018
We had a really enjoyable evening from the musical greeting in the foyer which continued throughout the whole performance. Everyone performed to their utmost skill.
Ellsbelles
Jul 17, 2018
I booked this show for myself and two friends, £25 tickets and had great seats. We all loved this show, the cast were so enthusiastic and entertaining. We all loved the comedy moments & the dancing, wow!!, but it still captured so well the romance, happy moments and a love never to be forgotten .
Margaret
Jul 15, 2018
Fabulous music, talented cast, a quirky play, unusual with great effects but very true to the film.
Kathy
Jul 15, 2018
Really enjoyable show from talented and versatile performers. I would thoroughly recommend.
Jan
Jul 14, 2018
A very gentle and romantic story. A very pleasant evening
Julia Burke
Jul 13, 2018
Completely spell-binding! Excellent choreography, dancing, singing, music, acting. Witty & clever. Joyful, moving, convincing.
Hilda Lessways
Jul 10, 2018
I wondered how one of my favourite films would fare on stage but this was brilliant. A wonderful cast captured a wide range of emotions but remained true to the spirit of the film. Loved it. Well done.
Lizi W
Jul 8, 2018
Another of Kneehigh's great productions to add to my list of 'want to see'. The cast and the musicians were just as you want them to be, even the two lovers matched their film predecessors" looks! The pathos and the humour were strong in equal measure. I loved the characters played by Beverly Rudd and Dean Nolan. The clever tricks employed in the train scenes were so effective and Emma Rice's signature was obvious throughout. It was a really good production in spite of the very warm auditorium (outside was 30°) and the excitement of the noisy Gay Pride Parade and English World Cup football...... the audience was depleted but very appreciative and glad of their choice to be involved with Brief Encounter!
Jonathan
Jul 6, 2018
The performance starts, in many ways, when you are sat in your seat, as the ushers sing old songs until the play starts properly. Apart from the two leads, every other actor plays numerous roles and the group make wonderful use of cinema screens and projections to add another dimension to this classic romance! Our performance was disappointingly half-empty, which is a shame, as the cast are very talented and the show deserves to be seen by more people. Go and see it!
Anna K
Jul 1, 2018
Brief Encounter is a must see show from the moment the casts entertains upon your arrival to curtain down. It’s slick, hugely engaging & an all round fabulous evening. The strength & talent of every actor on stage in this cast is second to none. Isabel Pollen performance as Laura is a master class on its own. I can’t recommend this show highly enough.
Sheila
Jun 29, 2018
Really excelllent show, brilliant acting from a fantastic versatile cast.
Antonia
Jun 28, 2018
I wanted to award this 4.5 really. The cast were excellent (as always) set clever and interesting and the musicians superb. I just felt that the tragic / comedy mix detracted from the tension and pain Of lost love a little too much. There was bawdy romance a plenty to be had, but the emphasis was more camp comedy and this detracted from the central story of heartbreak and loss .
Linda C
Jun 26, 2018
What a fun show. Although the story was told, the sadness was taken away by the characters in the station cafe. It was staged beautifully and the cast were superb. Laura's face portrayed a million agonies. What a highly entertaining show
Amanda & Nigel
Jun 25, 2018
This is a love story that completely takes you back in time.... you feel you are there .... the emotions were heartfelt .... the expressions on Laura’s face .....the passion , the pain it was all there . I was in tears , I could feel her pain ;their anguish . A balanced mix of humour that does not detract from the beautiful story . Such a beautiful depiction of Noel Cowards film . A definite must see
tinydramaqueen
Jun 25, 2018
The show was great, the seats were great. Good service all round. I highly recommend this production.
BT
Jun 24, 2018
Ambitious, ingenious mix of live action and film, enthusiastically performed by a talented cast. Great fun and ultimately moving adaptation of the original movie.
Paul
Jun 24, 2018
Staged beilliantly. Original style and energetic and likable performers. In short, a brief encounter with an amazing and talent packed show
Malcolm Hill
Jun 21, 2018
If you like a musical that has just about everything this has it great acting singing and music with comedy of the highest standard and romance and heartbreak thrown in Set in the late 1930s it pays homage to Noel Coward great 1958s film of the same name and mirrors it's plot and story. It's only on for a sort rung font muss it
Claire
Jun 21, 2018
Simply Beautiful
Sally Rieu
Jun 21, 2018
A wonderful interpretatiion of a classic story by the most amazing cast. The lead actors transported the audience to another place with humour and sadness. They rival celia johnson and trevor howard in the film roles. This should be made into a film now. Same cast though!!!
Rob H
Jun 20, 2018
So surprised by this beautiful, clever and poignant production. The entire cast were amazing, the solo singer superb and the staging just brilliant. One of the most enjoyable evenings entertainment I have had in a while. Highly recommend for those that enjoy slick, professional theatre and an ensemble that really know how to tell a story.
Kerri
Jun 20, 2018
We loved Brief Encounter - it was clever and funny, moving and entertaining. The cast are incredibly talented and the set amazing. What more could you ask for?
Kerri
Jun 20, 2018
We loved Brief Encounter - it was clever and funny, moving and entertaining. The cast are incredibly talented and the set amazing. What more could you ask for?
Lesley Broderick
Jun 18, 2018
Not quite as I was expecting but great fun from the minute you entered the theatre. Impressive, talented cast of actors, come singers come musicians. I certainly recommend this show.
Hubert in London
Jun 17, 2018
Amazing, inventive and thoroughly entertaining. The cast is superb and the set design incredibly poetic. We loved every second of it. A must see!
Yemi
Jun 17, 2018
This is my second time coming to see Brief Encounter and I am in awe of it every time. It’s a fairly simple story line but Kneehigh has created one of the most exciting experiences. The entire show is fascinating to watch, using some common theatre techniques but in the most uncommon way and it is a refreshing occurrence. This comedic, heart-warming and painfully sympathetic show is beautifully done and would recommend to anyone and everyone!!
Andrew
Jun 16, 2018
Excellent performance, really enjoyed it. Cast were great and the way they interacted with the audience was great and a bit different
Angie G.
Jun 15, 2018
Interesting adaption of a very old film. We really enjoyed it (3 generations - my daughter & grandaughter accompanied me). The cast are all good - especially Dean.
Trevor in Bath
Jun 15, 2018
Brief Encounter pulls out all the stops and reveals the genius of Emma Rice as we are treated to a madcap romp around the station cafe utilising visual gimmickry, musical finesse and lo tec stunts to provide 90 minutes of pure pleasure. The cast are multi talented and by the end totally exhausted! Wouldn't have missed this for the world.
Lizzie Wynne
Jun 15, 2018
We all thoroughly enjoyed this, even the railway nerds amongst us who thought the mini train across the stage was hilarious. The cast are super-talented, acting, singing, dancing AND playing musical instruments. Set changes were slick and on the ball. I have one tiny quibble - the action takes place over many weeks, yet Laura wore the same costume throughout. A quick change here and there would have helped with the illusion of the passage of time.
rachel
Jun 14, 2018
lovely venue . great cast, well played
Diana
Jun 14, 2018
Such a fantastic play that had everything from comedy to poignant moments of sadness. The cast were outstanding in their dual roles. I would love to see this again.
sumit
Jun 14, 2018
The play is excellent!. The cast is supremely talented. I loved every minute of it.
Ian Allen
Jun 14, 2018
Brilliantly performed and directed, I liked it so much I seen it three times .. try not to miss it ...
Carina
Jun 14, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyed watching the show. It was quite quirky in places, but that added to it's charm. The script was both poignant and witty, with several actors taking multiple parts, often of very exaggerated characters, how they had time to change, often in a very short space of time, I will never know. I would certainly recommend the show not only to fans of the original film, but also to those who appreciate a taste of wit and comedy too!
Richard W
Jun 14, 2018
Kneehigh are a familiar proposition and this well-established revival did not disappoint. It was a multi-media experience which paid homage to the David Lean film, less so to the Noel Coward one acter and also managed to create something of its own. It was a melange of singing, dancing and drama performed at a helter-skelter pace with all members of the talented company good value and the hour and a half (no interval) flew by.
Becks
Jun 13, 2018
Brief Encounter stil great fun second time around. Brilliant acting and music.
Alan Moore
May 25, 2018
I have seen the film many times which is my favourite, but what a fantastic show! Full of energy, great songs, great dance routines and a fantastically versatile cast! Thank you for a great birthday treat. A real treat for the senses! I have booked up to see again in August!
Val
May 24, 2018
This show ticked all the boxes for me, an amazing production.
J from Somerset
May 24, 2018
The anticipation built even before we entered the cinema, period costume musicians on the steps, then small details as we mounted the stairs and two characters making a beeline for middle front row seats -the scene was set! In true Kneehigh fashion everyone involved showed many talents which were drawn upon to enhance the experience of this 'Brief Encounter'. There was something for everyone -dance, song, wordsmithery, clever use of cinematic effects within the play - an overall feast for the senses. We done, Emma and everyone at Kneehigh... we loved it!
Natalina Popat
May 21, 2018
Brilliant, immersive show which transposes the audience into the early 20th century. So many smart, precise details such as the sound imagery and homage to the past film production! Would highly recommend for families or anyone really!
Chrissie
May 21, 2018
It was an absolutely stunning show. It was very different, innovative, refreshing. Everything from all actors, musicians were fabulous. I can thoroughly recommend it!
Cherry
May 20, 2018
A fabulous brilliantly produced production of an old favourite! We loved it.
Sue sorano
May 20, 2018
Fantastic night, fast passed, talented cast of strong all rounders, liked the fact of no interval. Clever staging and scenery, can't praise it enough!