Noel Cowards’ ‘Brief Encounter’

Pitlochry Festival Theatre - 22/06/23

Adapted for the stage by Emma Rice

There can’t have been many members in the matinee audience at Pitlochry Festival theatre who were not familiar with the David Lean filmed adaptation of Noel Coward’s original 1936 play ‘Still Life’. Written as a cycle of ten plays that make up ‘Tonight at 8.30’ performed across three evenings. The romantic film about a doomed relationship forged at Carnforth Railway tearoom, entered public consciousness in 1945, with leading man Trevor Howard playing the charismatic doctor and Celia Johnson the restrained housewife, and of course the use of Rachmaninov’s Piano concerto No. 2. It was the ultimate ‘weepy’. Since then, it has had many reincarnations both on radio and at the theatre and a wonderful comic take by Victoria Wood.

Pitlochry has a reputation for presenting a Noel Coward as part of its season and this year Artistic Director, Elizabeth Newman, chose the award-winning adaptation by Kneehigh and Emma Rice which had a long run in 2008 at Cinema Haymarket in the West End. This production lacks the cinematic clips but makes full use of a terrific set and staging. With the live band placed stage right and using several trucks gliding on and off to represent the station tea rooms, the suffocating front room and the boathouse enhanced by steam train sound and light, the production is a theatrical pleasure.  

Throughout the show scenes are complimented by Coward’s witty songs with the band slipping in and out of various characters whilst providing the musical accompaniment. Yet again the repertory company display their talent and versatility. Whilst satisfying the central premise of the unrequited passion between a repressed housewife with a kind and uninspiring husband, and a charismatic married doctor, the relationships between the lower classes, the tea lady and the station master, the cheeky chappie and the waitress are central to the action. In fact, an audience member noted that she wasn’t sure who the leading lady was, as they are all given stage time and a song. Sometimes it pulls focus from the story we know and love. All performances are strong and carefully nuanced. A special mention to Rachel McAllister and Keith McPherson who bring warmth and comedy to their parts, as well as playing bass and fiddle. As always Kirsty Stuart is luminous as the cut glass housewife Laura and Matthew Trevannion as Alec, her doctor lover, is suitably middle-class English. This is a definite crowd pleaser for both young and old, and it is rewarding to enjoy a different modern take of this classic. First class, not standard!