Brief Encounter to close 16 Nov 2008

Brief Encounter to close 16 Nov 2008

Noel Coward's Brief Encounter - Live On Stage at 'The Cinema On The Haymarket' extends its season for the final time, finishing on Sunday 16 Nov 2008, closing after 350 performances and prior to a 25-week national tour.

Producer David Pugh says, 'I am delighted and amazed at the astounding success of the Kneehigh production of "Brief Encounter". It was a daunting and some people said plain silly idea to adapt one of London's oldest cinemas back into a theatre, but it has proved to be a most inspired and exciting achievement. What started as a 12-week run has been extended and extended, which means the Kneehigh Theatre Company will have played for over 350 performances, and they are now due a well-earned rest before the UK tour opens on 13 February 2009 at The Royal Theatre, Northampton.'

The play opened 17 Feb 2008, following previews from 2 Feb, to reasonable notices from the popular press: THE EVENING STANDARD says, "A valuable theatrical Encounter. THE GUARDIAN says, "The show friskily demonstrates Kneehigh's skill but at the cost of the quiet integrity that makes the original Brief Encounter so peerlessly moving." THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "Enjoyable."

Switching seamlessly between theatre and film using a combination of Coward's original stage play Still Life and the screenplay of Brief Encounter, Emma Rice, Kneehigh's Artistic Director, takes you back to a bygone age of romance and the silver screen from the moment the commissionaire opens the doors. The lives and loves of three couples are played out in the famous station tearoom using the words and songs of Noel Coward.

The cast currently includes Tristan Sturrock (Alec), Naomi Frederick (Laura), Tamzin Griffin (Myrtle), Dorothy Atkinson (Beryl), Stuart McLoughlin (Stanley), Andy Williams (Fred/Albert)

It is directed by Emma Rice, designed by Neil Murray, lighting by Malcolm Rippeth, sound by Simon Baker, original music by Stu Barker, projection by Gemma Carrington & Jon Driscoll. The Kneehigh Theatre production is produced in the West End David Pugh / Dafydd Rogers / Cineworld Group Plc.