Whitmore Shines in Gripping Thriller
Last night’s (10/06) performance of The Girl on the Train at Milton Keynes Theatre was an absolute knockout — a suspense-filled, emotionally charged production that had me hooked from start to finish. I was completely absorbed! The tension, the twists, the atmosphere — it was phenomenal!
For this 2025 UK tour, the creative team have crafted a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat experience. Based on the bestselling novel by Paula Hawkins (I have read the book twice!), this gripping psychological drama follows Rachel Watson — a woman struggling with heartbreak, addiction, and memory loss — as she gets tangled in a chilling mystery she may or may not be at the centre of.
Laura Whitmore takes on the challenging lead role of Rachel, and WOW — she delivers. Her performance was raw, honest, and incredibly layered. She captured Rachel’s vulnerability, confusion, and quiet strength with such authenticity, I completely believed her journey. I was rooting for her the entire time!
The suspense was relentless. From the moment the lights dimmed, I was fully immersed in Rachel’s fractured world. The clever set design, with moving projections and pulsing train tracks, brought her internal chaos to life in such a smart way. It genuinely felt like we were inside her head — and it was a wild ride!
The supporting cast were excellent too. Samuel Collings as Scott Hipwell was intense and unpredictable — you never quite knew if you could trust him. Freya Parks as Megan Hipwell delivered a powerful performance, full of quiet pain and hidden depth, leaving the audience haunted by her every scene. Zena Carswell as Anna delivered moments of real bite and emotional conflict, and Paul McEwan as the detective brought a grounded calm to the swirling storm. Each character added more mystery and doubt, which only ramped up the suspense.
What really surprised me was how well the production balanced the darker, more intense themes with flashes of humour and humanity. There were moments that made the audience laugh, gasp, and hold their breath — sometimes all in the same scene!
The sound design and lighting were perfectly done, heightening every key moment. And the final scenes? Utterly electrifying. I was on the edge of my seat, heart pounding.
As always, I won’t give away the plot, especially with a thriller like this — but trust me, it delivers on every front. Whether you’ve read the book, seen the film, or are going in completely fresh, this stage adaptation brings something new and exciting.
The Girl on the Train is running at Milton Keynes Theatre for a limited time, and it’s absolutely worth seeing. It’s dark, dramatic, and totally absorbing — a powerful piece of theatre that proves just how thrilling the stage can be.
If you love a good mystery, intense performances, and bold, cinematic staging — don’t miss this!
This train is going full-speed — get on board while you can!
This performance is at Milton Keynes Theatre until 14th June 2025. Tickets are available from £15.00 (+ £3.95 transaction fee), General bookings: 0844 871 7615, Access bookings:0333 009 5399, Group bookings:0207 206 1174 or online.
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