Brief Encounter announces cast

The Roundabout Theatre Company in association with David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers and Cineworld presents Kneehigh Theatre's have announced the cast for the revival of Noël Coward's Brief Encounter, adapted and directed by Emma Rice.

The cast will feature Joseph Alessi (Albert/Fred), Dorothy Atkinson (Beryl), Damon Daunno (Bill/Bobbie), Gabriel Ebert (Stanley), Edward Jay (Musician), Annette McLaughlin (Myrtle), Adam Pleeth (Musician), Tristan Sturrock (Alec) and Hannah Yelland (Laura). Brief Encounter will open at Studio 54 on 28 Sep 2010, following previews from 10 Sep, playing a limited engagement through to 5 Dec 2010.

Switching seamlessly between theatre and film using a combination of Coward's original stage play 'Still Life' and the screenplay of Brief Encounter Emma Rice, Kneehigh's Artistic Director, takes you back to a bygone age of romance and the silver screen from the moment the commissionaire opens the doors. The lives and loves of three couples are played out in the famous station tearoom using the words and songs of Noël Coward.

Kneehigh Theatre's Brief Encounter played a sold out run at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn, NY and has also played critically acclaimed engagements at ACT and the Guthrie Theater.

Brief Encounter played at London's Cinema Haymarket in 2008, and earned Emma Rice a nomination for the 2009 Olivier Award for Best Director.

The design team includes Neil Murray (Sets & Costumes), Malcolm Rippeth (Lights), Simon Baker (Sound) and Gemma Carrington & Jon Driscoll (Projection).

Joseph Alessi (Albert/Fred) is making his Broadway debut. His London credits are 'Laughter On The 23rd Floor,' 'Animal Crackers,' 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' 'The Postman Always Rings Twice' and 'The Drowsy Chaperone.'

Dorothy Atkinson (Beryl) is making her Broadway debut. Her London credits are 'Two Weeks with the Queen,' 'Epitaph For George Dillon,' 'A Matter of Life and Death' and 'Brief Enocounter.'

Damon Daunno (Bill/Bobbie) is making his Broadway debut. A New York based singer/songwriter currently starring as 'Romeo' in 'The Last Goodbye' (a musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet set to the music of Jeff Buckley) at the Williamstown Theater Festival. Venues played include 'Highline Ballroom' and 'Joe's Pub.'

Gabriel Ebert (Stanley) is making his Broadway debut as a featured member of cast, he recently understudied the role of 'Ken'in the Broadway production of 'Red.'

Edward Jay (Musician) is making his Broadway debut. He has performed in Kneehigh Theatre's 'Tristan & Yseult' (2005 Spoleto Festival USA, 2006 Sydney Festival) and 'Brief Encounter' (London's West End 2008).

Annette Mclaughlin (Myrtle) is making her Broadway debut. Her London credits include 'Craxy For You,' 'Lenny,' 'Anything Goes,' 'Love Labour's Lost,' 'High Society,' 'Henry IV, Pat I,' 'Midsummer Night's Dream' and 'Chicago.'

Adam Pleeth (Musician) is making hisr Broadway debut. Pleeth started working with Kneehigh Theatre in January 2008, performing in the West End run of Brief Encounter until November 2008, the UK tour of Brief Encounter in 2009 and the full US tour of San Francisco, New York and Minneapolis in 2009/2010.

Tristan Sturrock (Alec) is making her Broadway debut. Her London stage credits are 'Spanish TRagedy,' 'Mysteries,' 'The Riot,' 'Tristan and Yseult,' 'Matter of Life and Death' and 'Brief Encounter.'

Hannah Yelland (Laura) is making her Broadway debut. Her London stage credits are 'Daisy Pulls it Off' and 'Nicholas Nickleby Part 1 & 2.'

Noël Coward (Playwright) made his professional stage debut as 'Prince Mussel' in 'The Goldfish' at the age of 12, which led to many child actor appearances in the next few years. He played the character of 'Slightly' in Peter Pan - which later caused critic Kenneth Tynan to remark - "Forty years ago he was Slightly in Peter Pan and you might say that he has been wholly in Peter Pan ever since."

Several of his own early plays reached the London stage briefly but it was the controversial 'The Vortex' (1924) that proved to be the breakthrough. With its overt references to drugs and adultery, it made his name as both actor and playwright in the West End and on Broadway.

Other Coward plays include: 'Hay Fever,' 'Fallen Angels,' 'Easy Virtue,' 'Private Lives,' 'This Happy Breed, 'Present Laughter,' 'Design For Living,' ;Sail Away,' 'The Girl Who Came To Supper' and 'High Spirits'.

Emma Rice (Adaptor, Director) is the artistic director of Kneehigh Theatre based in Truro, Cornwall, England. She has directed for Kneehigh 'Pandora's Box,' 'Wild Bride.' 'The Red Shoes,' 'The Wooden Frock,' 'The Bacchae,' 'Tristan & Yseult,' 'Nights at the Circus,' 'Cymbeline' and many more.