The Girl On The Train at Milton Keynes Theatre Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Amanda Dando

It’s always exciting to see a play you haven’t seen before on the stage, but especially so when a new lead takes over. I was looking forward to seeing the famous Laura Whitmore up on the stage as the lead Rachel Watson, which she is playing until the end of August. The Girl on the Train is touring the UK and arrived in Milton Keynes today. Milton Keynes Theatre is a great place to watch any type of show and always a pleasure to visit. It was a mixed audience who took to their seats this evening full of excitement for what was to come.

The play is based on the novel of the same title written by Paula Hawkins, which I haven’t read, so the plot was all new to me. Certainly it has to be the most minimalist staging I have ever seen for a play, but it did work very well. It’s a dark and moody set to suit the plot which unravels. Laura Whitmore as Rachel certainly gave a grand performance, she was for me vulnerable, raw, brave and most importantly believable as Rachel.

It’s a small cast but they all work incredibly well with each other, especially Paul McEwan as DI Gaskill. As much as the storyline was dark, there was some gallows humour in amongst it all, which made many of us chuckle out loud. That said some of the language and themes were definitely adult based, making this in my view more of an adult play.

Much as the title suggests there is a Girl on the Train, the girl being Rachel, but the plot is so much more than that. It’s about lifestyle, relationships and how everything may look from the outside, but reality is never what it seems.

I don’t want to spoil the plot, but this play really does have you guessing until the end. Samuel Collings as Scott and Ed Harrison as Tom were very believable, and I really bought into their characters.

The set is used really well, as are the digital graphics, I loved the way Rachel put on her coat which then signalled a change or that she was on the train, the cast swaying with her as if they were indeed on a high speed train, the visual effect was superb. I loved the way the characters true self were revealed, especially Megan, whose story was especially tragic. It’s a great play and certainly captured my imagination, I was completely invested in the outcome. It was an evening of great acting, superb staging and a believable story. I would recommend you grab your tickets before the train arrives at the next station!

Rating: 5/5

The Girl on the Train is at Milton Keynes Theatre from Tuesday 10th June until Saturday 14th June 2025
Tickets are available from £15 subject to a transaction fee of £3.95 available to buy from www.atgtickets.com or call the Box Office 0800 912 6971

Milton Keynes Theatre, 500 Marlborough Gate, Central Milton Keynes, MK9 3NZ