Emma Rice will guest star as Myrtle in Brief Encounter - Live on Stage! from 22 July 2008

Emma Rice will guest star as 'Myrtle' in Brief Encounter - Live on Stage! from 22 July 2008

Emma Rice of Kneehigh Theatre and director of the stage adaptation of Noel Coward's Brief Encounter will guest star as 'Myrtle' from 22 July to 17 August, at Cinema Haymarket.

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, until 20 July), Amanda Lawrence (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.

Brief Encounter is currently taking booking to 21 Sep 2008.