Children under 3 will not be admitted.
Performance dates
3 March 2018 - 2 December 2018
Run time 90min (no interval)
Includes interval
Top Rated Show
Reviewers highly rate this show
- Show info
- Gallery
- Accessibility
- Reviews
- News
Brief Encounter Tickets are now available for Emma Rice's production at the newly restored Empire Cinema.
A chance meeting in a railway station café where they were brought together by Laura ‘getting a little piece of grit in my eye’, led to one of the most haunting and heart-breaking love stories ever told. The award-winning Kneehigh production of Noël Coward’s Brief Encounter, which was originally produced at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, triumphed in the West End in 2008 and subsequently received great critical acclaim on Broadway and went on to tour worldwide. It was described by Ben Brantley in the New York Times as ‘surely the most enchanting work of stagecraft ever inspired by a movie.’
The cast will feature Jim Sturgeon as Alec, Isabel Pollen as Laura, Lucy Thackeray as Myrtle, Beverly Rudd as Beryl, Jos Slovick as Stanley and Dean Nolan as Fred/Albert, with Katrina Kleve and Peter Dukes.
Brief Encounter will be directed by Emma Rice, designed by Neil Murray, with lighting by Malcolm Rippeth, original music by Stu Barker, sound by Simon Baker and projection by Gemma Carrington & Jon Driscoll.
You may know the movie but don't miss the chance to experience this heartbreaking but uplifting love story in a thrilling new format. Tickets for Brief Encounter at London's Empire Cinema are available now!
"Vibrantly theatrical and totally absorbing" The New York Observer
"A first class return to romance" Daily Telegraph
"The most enchanting piece of stagecraft ever inspired by a movie" The New York Times
Recent Reviews
Absolutely loved this show, incredibly talented cast. I felt swept away to a magical world for two hours... wish I could go back and see it again and again!
It was simply one of the most inventive, funny, touching and entertaining pieces of musical theatre I've ever seen! Such an amazing cast and such effective staging - superb!
Very clever, and all the elements were well done, but I didn't really feel they fitted together to make a coherent whole. Brief Encounter is such a beautiful and sad story that having comic songs interspersed with it seemed to jar a bit. Maybe if you didn't know the film and weren't expecting the melancholy it would have been fine.
Loved the performance and would definitely go and see something at this location or by kneehigh again
Really superb production - cannot fault in any way. A definite 'must see' if possible before it closes this Sunday!
Great show and great price for tickets. No problems, received tickets in plenty time.Would definitely use London Theatre Direct again.
Great show, wonderfull comedians
It was an excellent and innovative rendition of an old film. First rate acting and musicianship.
Innovative, charming production. Great cast put on a witty and heart warming story
Funny, quirky and different. Would recommend you see this.
Brief Encounter was a marvellous example R&B classic in the British Theatre, with inventive comma and engaging modern Direction. Each and every performance with Stella comma and the Show left us thrilled!
Loved it. Very funny. They cast were very versatile playing numerous parts. Loved the way they moved the props around, and the little steam train was cute.
Latest Brief Encounter News
News
Brief Encounter announces an early closing
The production team for Emma Rice’s musical adaptation of Noel Coward’s classic love story, Brief Encounter, has just announced that the show will be closing earlier than expected. The unexpected announcement comes as a shock to many, considering the overwhelming praise the show has received since its premiere at the Empire Cinema.
6 Jul, 2018 | By Nicholas Ephram Ryan Daniels
Features
Too Beautiful to be Brief
Making my way to the Empire Cinema on Haymarket, I had mixed feelings about reviewing Emma Rice’s adaptation of Brief Encounter. I wondered how the cinema could be made to set the scene for one of Noel Coward’s most well-known productions, and whether it would capture the ambience and atmosphere that a theatre holds. All of my questions and many more were answered, leaving me in no doubt that this is a piece of theatre that needs to be seen.
2 May, 2018 | By Kay Johal
Features
Brief Encounter: an excellent blend of classic cinema and contemporary theatre
Kneehigh’s adaptation of Brief Encounter, Noel Coward's classic 1938 movie, has opened at the Empire Cinema on the Haymarket. The stunning late 20s interior of the cinema perfectly complements the production and gives the right atmosphere to the start of the play. Ushers in uniform greet the audience and sing while you find your seat. The ensemble are multi-talented, playing a variety of musical instruments during the pre-show and throughout the performance.
4 Apr, 2018 | By Harrison Fuller
Features
5 Reasons to See Brief Encounter
Brief Encounter has taken to screen and stage in the West End, in the Empire Cinema no less, and is ready to entertain London for months to come. The run isn’t urgently coming to an end, but September will be here in no time and you certainly don’t want to miss out on this classic. Here’s why you shouldn’t sit on this play and should get your tickets sharpish.
15 Mar, 2018 | By Jade Ali
Keep me updated
We'll tell you as soon as tickets go on sale: