Theatre Royal Brighton – 4th-7th June 2025
If you’re after an evening of suspense, psychological twists and a healthy dose of drama, The Girl on the Train at Theatre Royal Brighton delivers. Adapted from Paula Hawkins’ bestselling novel, this stage version grips you from the start and doesn’t let go until the final, chilling moment. It’s a taut, moody production that manages to feel both cinematic and theatrical.
The Girl on the Train follows Rachel Watson, a troubled woman who becomes obsessed with a couple she watches from her daily train journey. When the woman disappears, Rachel finds herself drawn into the investigation, uncovering dark secrets while questioning her own fractured memories.
At the heart of it all is Laura Whitmore, stepping into the messy, mesmerising shoes of Rachel Watson. Best known for her TV and radio work, Whitmore proves she’s more than up to the challenge. She brings a raw vulnerability to Rachel, making her fractured world feel heartbreakingly real.
Rachel isn’t the easiest character to root for (she’s a down-on-her-luck alcoholic, prone to paranoia and self-sabotage) but Whitmore keeps us firmly on her side. Her performance is layered, with flashes of strength and dry humour breaking through the fog of confusion and regret. It’s impressive to watch her unravel and slowly rebuild in front of our eyes.
The production itself is slick and atmospheric. Clever use of video projections and lighting helps to create the sense of a train in motion, slipping between Rachel’s murky memories and harsh present-day reality. The set is minimal but effective, shifting seamlessly between locations, including Rachel’s bedsit, Tom’s house and the psychiatrist’s office, with just a few props and lighting cues. The focus stays on the unravelling mystery and the characters caught within it.
Supporting performances are strong across the board. Freya Parks is a stand-out as Megan and delivers one of the play’s most emotional scenes. Tom Watson, Rachel’s manipulative ex, is played by Ed Harrison with unsettling calmness. Praise also goes to Samuel Collings as Scott for his nuanced performance with edge and vulnerability.
Paul McEwan as DI Gaskill and Zena Carswell as Anna bring emotional depth to characters that could easily have felt secondary. Each scene adds another layer to the puzzle, keeping you guessing until the final confrontation.
If there’s a downside, it’s that the play occasionally feels a little rushed in places. Some scenes could benefit from a longer pause to let key emotional beats land more deeply. But overall, the pacing works to build tension and keep the story moving.
Whether or not you’ve read the book or seen the film, this is a gripping, cleverly staged thriller that’s well worth the ticket.
The Girl on the Train tour review – 4 stars
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