Kneehigh Theatre's recreation of Noel Coward's stage play Brief Encounter is a charming, funny production that draws on David Lean's 1945 film classic that starred Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard.

Director Emma Rice takes elements of this – one of the most popular romantic films of all time – and seamlessly mixes film with theatre and the music and songs of Noel Coward to recreate the world of Milford Junction, if not as we know it.

It was in the tearoom at this railway station that a chance encounter between Dr Alec Harvey (played here by Milo Twomey) and Laura Jesson (Hannah Yelland) led to their clipped and tormented romantic trysts.

But in Kneehigh's version, all kinds of strange things happen around them. As their romance blossoms, so a film backdrop of crashing waves mirrors the intensity of their emotions.

A toy train makes its way across the stage, characters step seamlessly from stage to screen, Laura's children are represented amusingly by puppets and an imitation dog straining on the end of a leash is used to huge comic effect.

The tearoom is not just a backdrop to Alec and Laura's meetings but takes on a life of its own.

Other romances blossom between manageress Myrtle (Annette McLaughlin) and station master Fred (Joseph Alessi), and between tearoom assistant Beryl (played brilliantly by Beverly Rudd) and her beau Stanley (Christopher Price).

Throughout it all there is the music – wonderful Noel Coward tunes and snatches of the Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No 2 that formed the soundtrack of Lean's film. Before the curtain goes up a band plays Roll Out The Barrel and Run Rabbit Run.

If I have one tiny criticism it is that Hannah Yelland's enunciation is not quite clipped enough to satisfy fans of Lean's film – who could forget Laura's reference to her 'het'?

Aside from that, it's a splendid, inventive evening's entertainment which has won a whole host of awards and is a tribute to the skills of Kneehigh's company of ten actor-musicians.

Brief Encounter runs until Saturday May 30. Call the box office on 01225 448844.