The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins’ genre-defining psychological thriller, has captivated audiences since its debut in 2015. Having read the novel on its release and seen the film adaptation starring Emily Blunt, experiencing the story (adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel) reimagined on stage offers a fresh opportunity to examine the flawed humanity that sits at its centre.
At its heart, the piece is less a whodunnit and more an exploration of hidden lives and uncomfortable truths. Every character is flawed, forcing us to question first impressions as the story unfolds. Director Paul Beasley presents the action against a two-level set designed by Anna Field, with three dominant railway arches framing the world of the play. While the police interview room and the Hipwell living room are fixed, Rachel Watson’s flat is positioned downstage on a movable unit in a space that is never repurposed, so keeping it fixed could reduce the number of scene transitions—an element that occasionally affects the pacing. Those transitions, despite a covering soundtrack, sometimes feel lengthy, allowing tension to ebb where it needs to build. The most effective use of the soundtrack comes when the music bleeds directly into the next scene rather than fading out.
Lighting designers Alex Exton and Sam Milton create a near-constant sense of unease. They deserve credit for creating a pervasively unsettling look where shadows linger, reinforcing the sense of secrecy and hidden damage. That attention to visual storytelling is welcome, but projection feels like a missed opportunity, particularly at the climax of the play.
Nikki Favell leads the production with a nuanced portrayal of Rachel that avoids caricature. Her performance balances chaos and emotional volatility with compassion, creating a character who may not earn audience sympathy but certainly earns our empathy. Her scenes with David Lovell’s measured Inspector Gaskill are particularly effective, with Lovell’s calm authority providing an ideal counterweight to Rachel’s increasingly frantic energy. This is a strong on-stage dynamic.
Costume designer John Bale underscores character contrasts, particularly between Rachel and Holly Matusiak’s Anna Watson, where physicality and bearing highlight far more than dialogue alone. Matusiak’s Anna contrasts sharply with Rachel as she projects control and composure. Keir Watson brings range to Scott Hipwell, moving through grief, anger and surprising humour. His chemistry with Favell feels authentic, culminating in a moment of passion that draws an audible audience reaction. Nakoda Garrett’s Megan Hipwell drifts hauntingly through scenes (and Rachel’s consciousness), capturing both fragility and entrapment, while Bhav Bella lends believable warmth and kindness to therapist Kamal Abdic. Richie Phillips brings a measured quality to Tom Watson, Rachel’s ex-husband, although there are moments when I want to see more of the emotional complexity beneath the surface of this difficult character.
Sound design by Sam Kelly sustains the atmosphere, but occasionally the sound effects overwhelm the dialogue—most distractingly during Megan’s poignant monologue, where my focus is drawn to the sound of dripping water rather than Garrett’s performance. There are also points where some performances feel more delivered than lived, leaving emotional peaks just out of reach. Even so, Beasley’s vision is clear and the final moments land with force, although a small staging choice undercuts their impact.
Overall, this is an engaging, thought-provoking production that offers much to admire, particularly in its central performance. The production succeeds in raising questions about loneliness, the façades people maintain and the tension between what is seen and what is real – ideas that linger long after the curtain falls.
While it doesn’t quite realise all its considerable potential, The Girl on the Train remains an absorbing evening of theatre, demonstrating just why Hawkins’ story continues to resonate.
The Girl on the Train is playing at the Little Theatre in Leicester until Saturday 12th September.
