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Cast announced for Australian tour of Noël Coward’s Brief Encounter

UK theatre company Kneehigh have announced a cast of both Australians and international stars for the upcoming tour of their Broadway and West End hit Noël Coward’s Brief Encounter.

Michelle Nightingale – Brief Encounter. Image supplied.

The cast features UK and US actors Annette McLaughlin, Damon Daunno, Joseph Alessi, Jim Sturgeon, Dave Brown and James Gow.

Joining them are Australian actors Michelle Nightingale and Kate Cheel, who are both due to travel to London in August to rehearse under director Emma Rice.

Michelle Nightingale, who this year is performing her one woman show Born to Run at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival plays the female lead Laura. Scottish actor Jim Sturgeon plays the male lead Dr Alec Harvey.

“We are really excited to be working with Kate Cheel and Michelle Nightingale,” said Emma Rice, who is also artistic director of Kneehigh.

“Our ensemble is never static and we are always bringing new faces in and nurturing their artistic and professional development alongside long-standing members of the team. When we produced Brief Encounter on Broadway we found a couple of fantastic American performers to join the team, so we’re looking forward to working with new members of the ensemble for the Australian tour.”

Inspired by both Noël Coward’s original stage play Still Life and David Lean’s 1945 film Brief Encounter, this production takes place in 1938 London around Milford Junction railway station and is a fusion of theatre, song, and film footage projected on a giant screen.

The tour dates are:

Adelaide: Dunstan Playhouse, September 10 to 28

Canberra: Canberra Theatre, October 2 to 5

Melbourne Festival: The Athenauem, October 9 to 27

Sydney: The Concourse, October 31 to November 10

Wollongong: Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, November 20 to 23

Perth: The Regal, November 28 to December 1

Benjamin Neutze