Brief Encounter
Kneehigh Theatre at Hall For Cornwall
I entered the auditorium with mixed feelings; I adore Kneehigh, but wondered what
their live adaptation of David Lean’s wonderful Brief Encounter would bring.
My trepidations were quickly swept aside when we were greeted by ushers in 1930’s
cinema garb wandering through the audience singing Noel Coward tunes. The bright
red ruched cinema curtain and opening cinema titles declaring that ‘Brief Encounter’
has been passed for public exhibition to the incurably romantic reinforced the feeling
of time travel back to gentler times.
Emma Rice deviates very slightly from the original by relaying the love stories of not
one, but three couples, all tied inextricably together in the famous Carnforth railway
station.
With amazing timing, the play seamlessly flits from live action to film and back again.
The set design is superbly innovative, with seemingly little effort the scenes switch from
railway station café to boat yard and living room to railway platform.
The play is filled with Coward’s music, the passion and drama of the original film and
the mad comedy that is Kneehigh’s trademark. Sheer joy from start to finish, jaw
dropping, breathtaking theatre at it’s very best.
Sheila Vanloo
July 09