Emma Rice, who directs the stage show Brief Encounter at the Cinema Haymarket, is to guest star in her own production this summer, as the show announces a four-month extension.
Brief Encounter combines Noël Coward’s original stage play Still Life with the screenplay of David Lean’s famous film Brief Encounter, which was based upon Coward’s story. Kneehigh theatre company, of which Rice is Artistic Director, uses live action and film to tell the story of three contrasting couples whose romances are played out in a railway station tea room. Uniquely, the show is staged in the converted Cineworld cinema, now renamed the Cinema Haymarket, which hosted the premiere of Lean’s film in 1945.
Rice is to join the cast from 21 July to 18 August to play tea room manager Myrtle, a role currently occupied by Tamzin Griffin. A trained actress, Rice has achieved award-winning success as Artistic Director of Cornish theatre company Kneehigh, for whom her productions include Pandora’s Box, Tristan And Yseult, Wild Bride, The Red Shoes, The Bacchae, Cymbeline and A Matter Of Life And Death.
The rest of the cast comprises: Tristan Sturrock as Alec, Naomi Frederick as Laura, Amanda Lawrence as Beryl, Stuart McLoughlin as Stanley, Andy Williams as Fred/Albert and musicians Pete Judge and Alec Vann.
After opening on 17 February, Brief Encounter had been booking at the Cinema Haymarket until 22 June, but has now extended through to 19 October.
CB