Nottingham Theatre Royal – until Saturday 25 January 2025
Reviewed by Amy V Gathercole
4****
“Keeps you guessing right until the end! It captivates with its suspense and compelling performances”.
The Girl on the Train is based on the much-loved novel by Paula Hawkins, which sold over 20 million copies globally. Many may recall the 2016 film adaptation thriller starring Emily Blunt. This stage adaptation leans more into the plot of the film than the novel, providing a gripping and suspenseful experience full of tension and drama.
A great thriller is one that will have you questioning everyone’s motives and meanings throughout, and this play does precisely that. The flurry of “who did it?” moments keeps the audience on edge, second-guessing every character and their potential involvement in the crime. The writing is impeccable, ensuring that the suspense never lets up – kudos to director Loveday Ingram for this.
Giovanna Fletcher stars as Rachel Watson, a London commuter recently divorced and struggling to come to terms with her new lonely life. To cope, her drinking problem worsens, leading to increasingly erratic behaviour, including a peculiar fascination with watching people from the train.
Fletcher’s performance is nothing short of brilliant, portraying Rachel’s frazzled and unhinged state with conviction. She embodies a woman tormented by jealousy, bordering on alcoholism, who just doesn’t know who she should trust. She’s suffering from memory issues, not trusting what she thinks she believes and needs the help of others to help her piece things together following an attack that she doesn’t remember.
Separated from her ex-husband Tom (Jason Merrells), Rachel continues to cause drama for him and his new wife, Anna (Zena Carswell), and their new baby, Evie. Her harassment includes turning up at their house unannounced and making incessant phone calls when she’s had a skinful.
The story centres on the mysterious death of Megan Hipwell (Natalie Dunne), a woman whom Rachel has been observing during her train journeys, fantasising about Megan’s life while reflecting on her own choices. As the narrative unfolds, moments of humour are cleverly interspersed, offering much-needed relief amid the tension. The suspense and suspicions are relentless, keeping the audience guessing until the final scenes. Some comic relief is thankfully provided by Detective Inspector Gaskill, convincingly portrayed by TV favourite Paul McEwan, as the play tackles some trauma-based subjects and some darker adult themes, so the balance of DI Gaskill’s humour is welcomed.
DI Gaskill has a lot of potential leads to follow up on and stories to make sense of to establish what happened to Megan and why. The audience is left to wonder if they will figure out the truth before the police in the show do!
The set is sparse by design, allowing the cast to create many different sets with minimal fuss and very fast and effective changeovers of locations. It’s practical and effective work from the mind of Adam Wiltshire.
The use of physical slow and fast-motion sequences is an interesting storytelling choice that adds depth to the narrative, along with innovative lighting effects that enhance the overall mood and tension. The lighting work and design stand out as one of the show’s highlights, enhancing the mood and tension throughout the show with some set design pieces, including video design from Dan Light and a particularly impressive physical and digital piece in the final act. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil it! The Girl on the Train is a must-watch for thriller enthusiasts. It captivates with its suspense, compelling performances, and innovative storytelling techniques.
The Girl on the Train is visiting over 30 theatres across the UK in 2025 and you can purchase your tickets here