The Girl On The Train

The Girl on the Train has pulled into Milton Keynes Theatre, and it delivers a tense, compelling ride from the moment the house lights go down. Based on Paula Hawkins’ best-selling novel, this stage adaptation masterfully captures the psychological depth and disorienting mystery of the original story, keeping the audience gripped and guessing throughout.

At the heart of the production is Laura Whitmore as Rachel Watson – a role she fully inhabits with a raw, honest performance that lays bare the character’s inner chaos and longing. Whitmore, known to many for her broadcasting and presenting work, proves her stage credentials here. She plays Rachel with a beautiful balance of vulnerability and resolve, portraying a woman who’s broken but still searching for truth. Despite Rachel’s many flaws, Whitmore ensures the audience connects with her emotionally, sympathising with her even as she questions her own memories.

The challenge of bringing an unreliable narrator to life on stage is met with clever theatrical techniques. The production makes excellent use of lighting, soundscapes, and projection to represent Rachel’s fractured memories and shifting perspectives. Flashbacks unfold in front of us as Rachel pieces together what happened on the night a woman she has watched from her commuter train disappears. The result is unsettling, eerie and utterly absorbing.

The staging itself is striking in its simplicity – a mostly bare stage, with moving images and ambient effects doing the heavy lifting to transport us between Rachel’s flat, the train, and the scenes she conjures in her mind. This pared-back design ensures the focus remains firmly on the characters and the spiralling mystery at the heart of the story.

Director Loveday Ingram handles the tension with precision, never letting it drop for a moment. Each scene brims with unease as the story unravels layer by layer, culminating in a twist that’s as shocking on stage as it is on the page.

While Whitmore leads the cast brilliantly, she’s supported by a strong ensemble who each bring nuance and credibility to their roles. The chemistry and conflict between characters drive the suspense, making even the quiet moments pulse with intensity.

Whether you’re a fan of the book, the film, or coming to the story for the first time, this production is a gripping theatrical experience. It’s a show that gets under your skin – psychological drama at its finest, delivered with style and substance. Book a ticket, take your seat, and prepare to be utterly absorbed.