Gritty and Gripping
On until 24 May 2025 – press tickets for review
★★★★☆
If you’re a fan of Paula Hawkins’ best-selling novel The Girl on the Train, or you love psychological thrillers, then this week’s production at Curve Leicester is an unmissable treat. The stage adaptation of The Girl on the Train is dark, atmospheric, and emotionally complex. It’s a story that you can really sink your teeth into.

Starring EastEnders star Louisa Lytton as Rachel Watson, the show captures the hazy, fractured reality of a woman on the brink who is struggling with addiction, heartbreak, and shrouded memories. Having read the novel and seen the 2016 film adaptation starring Emily Blunt, I came to this show with only a slight recollection of the plot. That proved a blessing, as the mystery unfolded with all the suspense of a fresh whodunnit, keeping me fully engaged.

This 2024 tour version which has been adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel leans heavily into the psychological tension, and director Joseph O’Malley makes sure the production stays taut and focused. Lighting and sound are crucial in bringing Rachel’s fractured state of mind to life. The use of moody, rain-drenched lighting evokes the grey monotony of Rachel’s world, where daily train rides are her only escape and her obsession with a seemingly perfect couple living beside the tracks spirals into something more sinister. Only in the second act does warmth begin to seep into the production. The subtle shift in lighting seems to mirror Rachel’s tentative steps toward truth and healing.

The climactic scenes are powered by a soundscape that is both immersive and overwhelming. Thunderous rumbles and eerie silences heighten the emotional stakes. The fog effect, while effective in creating a sense of mystery, did at times feel slightly overused and risked obscuring some of the more nuanced performances.

Louisa Lytton is compelling in the lead role. She captures Rachel’s vulnerability, confusion, and slow-burning resilience with raw authenticity. It’s a challenging part that requires emotional range and physicality, and Lytton delivers. Zena Carswell gives a strong performance as Anna, Rachel’s former husband’s new wife. There’s a guardedness to her portrayal, underpinned by emotional complexity that makes the character more than just an antagonist. Natalie Dunne is haunting as Megan Hipwell. Dunne’s portrayal balances seduction and sadness, making Megan a tragic yet unforgettable presence. Paul McEwan brings authority and empathy as DI Gaskill, the detective who becomes a steadying force amidst the chaos. Whilst Jason Merrells, as Tom Watson, is both charming and unnerving.

The Girl on the Train is a strong show for lovers of the psychological thriller genre. Gritty, gripping, and unnerving, it asks us to consider how memory, perception, and trauma which shrouds reality. This production pulls you into Rachel’s spiral.

Catch it before it departs Curve station on 24 May 2025.