Samantha Womack to star in West End transfer of The Girl on the Train

As part of the production's national tour, it has been announced that The Girl on the Train will play at the Duke of York's Theatre for a limited engagement.

Based on the 2015 novel by Paula Hawkins and adapted for the stage by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel, the story follows Rachel Watson, a female commuter whose travels take on a greater importance as she finds herself a witness in a missing person investigation.

Samantha Womack will play Rachel Watson in The Girl on the Train. Best known for playing Ronnie Mitchell in Eastenders for a decade, Womack has appeared in productions including a national tour of The Addams Family as Morticia Addams, as well as Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre and South Pacific at the Barbican.

On playing the role of Rachel Watson in the West End, Womack said: " I am absolutely loving playing Rachel in The Girl on the Train.  She's such an interesting character to play, and we've had a brilliant reception from our audiences who have been gripped by her story.  This tour has already been the journey of a lifetime and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to bring it to the West End."

Further casting for the London run is to be announced.

The current touring cast stars Womack alongside John Dougall, Lowenna Melrose, Kirsty Oswald, Adam Jackson Smith, Oliver Farnworth, Naeem Hayat, Phillipa Flynn and Matt Concannon.

The Girl on the Train will play at the Duke of York's Theatre for a limited engagement of four weeks from 23^rd July, followed by a continuing tour until November 2019, with a final performance at Blackpool Winter Gardens.

The Girl on the Train is at the Duke of York's Theatre from 23^rd July to 17^th August.

The Girl on the Train tickets are available now.

^{Photo credit: Manuel Harlan}