Still Life comes from a cycle of ten one-act plays which Noel Coward presented in London in 1936 and which he called Tonight at 8.30. Most are comedies, but Still Life is serious. It was so successful that it was adapted into the film Brief Encounter, set in the tea room of a large railway station (Carnforth in the movie) where Laura (Rachel Pickup) is snatching a cup of tea before catching a train home. She gets a speck of soot in her eye and is quickly attended to by Alec (Alasdair Craig), a local doctor who is also waiting for a train. Gradually, over the weeks that follow, a close relationship develops between the two of them, even though they are already married with children.
Tam Williams’ imaginative production is being staged in the Grand Saloon Bar of Theatre Royal Drury Lane, rather smarter than the station buffet would have been, but suiting the production very well as the 60-strong audience sit around the large space having been served with a scrumptious afternoon cream tea with champagne!
Gertrude Lawrence originally played the role of Laura (Celia Johnson in the film) and Rachel Pickup is the equal of both of them, having terrific poise and sense of period in her acting. The voice can be described as clipped middle-class, but has a very warm, tender side when required, which she rarely allows us to see. This is a very moving portrayal and at times very intense.
Coward himself originally played Alec, the GP (Trevor Howard in the film), but Alasdair Craig truly makes the part is own. He is very believable as a country doctor, with the attitudes and mores of the time. There is an undercurrent of passion in the way he plays the role: we feel he is trying but failing not to fall in love, probably for the first time.
The station buffet is peopled by various humorous secondary roles which only serve to heighten the pathos of Lara and Alec’s doomed relationship. Chief of these is Myrtle (Joyce Carey in 1936), who runs the tea room and whose favourite phrase is “cake or pastry?” every time she serves a customer. In the current production, she is beautifully played by Elizabeth Elvin with great attention to detail, especially in her stance and walk, and in the way she looks at her customers as she speaks to them. This is her empire, and she knows it!
Albert, who checks tickets and who has a very soft spot for Myrtle, is delightfully acted by Antony Jardine. He brings out the humour of the character (and others that he performs) with great sensitivity, as does Seren Sandham-Davies, who plays Beryl and various other roles. To link the five scenes, Jardine and Sandham-Davies also provide live music, ranging from Jack Hulbert to Debussy, all very appropriate, whether sung or played on banjo, guitar, piano or trumpet.
To sum up, a very enjoyable and entertaining two hours, and, owing to the venue and the way it is used by Tam Williams, a surprisingly intimate piece of theatre that is totally involving. At times you really feel that you are eavesdropping on other people’s lives! Highly recommended!
Review by John Groves
Step inside the railway café and experience one of the greatest love stories ever written — not from a theatre seat, but from your own table.
The Grand Saloon Bar at Theatre Royal Drury Lane is transformed into the station café. Enjoy a scrumptious afternoon tea as the story of Alec and Laura’s chance encounter and secret love affair unfolds all around you.
NOËL COWARD’S STILL LIFE
Theatre Royal Drury Lane
7 to 12 September 2026
