Ten years after its première at Birmingham REP, Kneehigh’s production of Noël Coward’s Brief Encounter, adapted and directed by Emma Rice, is to return to the REP’s main stage.
Rice, said, “Brief Encounter combines the romance of cinema with all that live theatre can offer: magic, passion, surprise, suggestion and naughtiness.
“I carry this show in my heart and couldn’t be more excited to return to this heart-pounding production and bring it back to Birmingham. It’s radical and romantic, nostalgic but oh so relevant.”
The original production transferred to the West End, played on Broadway and toured the globe.
The REP’s artistic director Roxana Silbert said, “it’s incredibly exciting to bring Brief Encounter back to the REP where it all started. Emma Rice’s production of Noël Coward’s romantic tale is spellbinding. We hope a new generation will now have the chance to see it as well as giving those who loved it so much the first time the chance to fall in love with it all over again.”
The cast will feature Jim Sturgeon (Alec), Isabel Pollen (Laura), Lucy Thackeray (Myrtle), Beverly Rudd (Beryl), Jos Slovick (Stanley), Dean Nolan (Fred / Albert), Katrina Kleve and Peter Dukes.
Design is by Neil Murray with lighting by Malcolm Rippeth, original music by Stu Barker, sound by Simon Baker and projection by Gemma Carrington and Jon Driscoll.
Brief Encounter will be performed at Birmingham REP from Friday 2 until Saturday 17 February. Press night will be Tuesday 6 February.