“Brief Encounter” at Royal Exchange Theatre

David Lean’s 1945 film Brief Encounter is a true silver screen classic, with Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard immortalising Noël Coward’s story of hopeless love. The Royal Exchange invites us to enjoy a different take on the original with their latest production.

For those who have not seen the film, Brief Encounter sees Laura and Alec randomly meet in a railway refreshment room when she has a speck of coal in her eye and he, a GP, offers to remove it. They happen to meet again the following week, and the week after … until their liaisons are planned, secretive, and elegantly awkward. Both married with children, this is an affair destined to fail.

2023 marks the 50th anniversary of Noël Coward’s death and this production sprinkles Coward’s text with his songs and music, played by the on-stage jazz band; sung by the talented cast. More a play with music than full-blown musical, this adds an extra layer of quality to Sarah Frankcom’s slick direction. Franckom successfully intertwines the main love story with the burgeoning relationships between railway and tearoom staff – I’d love to know what Ms Bagot is putting in the tea! Rose Revitt’s stylish staging offers a sumptuous tearoom with hidden tracks, and a stunning opening to Act 2, an absolute highlight of the production.

Baker Mukasa (Alec) and Hannah Azuonye (Laura) perfectly capture the era with their cut-glass accents and impeccable manners and offer characters that we genuinely care about. The remaining cast of five build out the story and subplots. Christina Modestou, overseeing business in her tearoom (and back room!), could have fallen straight out of a Victoria Wood sketch; and Georgia Frost is hilarious as the innocently sweet Stanley wooing his first love Beryl.

Brief Encounter offers love that is innocent, love that is illicit, and a bit of hanky-panky to boot. The added songs pull at the heart strings one minute, then get us clapping along the next. As Laura and Alec’s final farewell is snapped way from them, we empathise with Laura’s loss and ultimate acceptance of a life less exciting as she falls back into her family routine, knowing she is loved dearly by her faithful (and potentially knowing) husband. And what better way to end the show with a jig or two with her man, and the rest of the cast, soaking up the rapturous applause.

This encounter may be brief, but will be remembered long after the lights go down.

Two Gay Grandpas

The Arizona-based gay couple behind the YouTube channel “Two Gay Grandpas Travel” have been together for 44 years and married for 15 years.

Grandpa Scott and his husband Grandpa Bobby are two gay grandpas who enjoy travelling, experiencing new cultures, meeting new people and enjoying life to the fullest. 

As two gay grandpas, they get asked a lot of questions by folks when they travel. So are they brave enough to answer the top 10 questions people ask them on their travels?

Check out this video to find out just how brave they are. From the basics (their favourite travel spots, how do they plan their travels) to the more personal (their relationship), they are ready to reveal all.

Trade Unions and LGBT+ Rights: Past Victories, Future Challenges

A discussion on the past and future of the unions role in LGBT+ equality.

Working Class Movement Library, 51 Crescent, Salford M5 4WX

Saturday, 17 February 2024 – 2.00pm – 3:30pm – Free

Book on Eventbrite

From the first strike action organised by trade union members to save the job of a victimised gay colleague in the 1970s, through the mutual solidarity of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners, trade unions have contributed immensely to the successes achieved for LGBT+ equality in Britain. Join Peter Purton and Meg Birchall for a talk that celebrates the past victories for LGBT+ rights in Britain, the significant challenges that LGBT+ people face today and what the trade union movement can do to support and empower its LGBT+ members.

Peter Purton began campaigning for LGBT+ equality in the 1970s, participating in all the struggles of those years. Believing that winning the active support of the Labour Movement was vital to achieving both legal and social progress, he played a leading part in the work of the Labour Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Rights (now LGBTLabour) to secure Labour Party support in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1998 he started work as the first LGBT officer for the TUC (Trades Union Congress) and helped secure the successive laws that culminated in the Equality Act (2010). On retirement (2016) he wrote ‘Champions of Equality. Trade Unions and LGBT rights in Britain‘ (Lawrence & Wishart 2018), and has been warning for many years against complacency in the LGBT+ communities because rights that have been gained can also be lost.

Meg Birchall (they/them) is a councillor for Delph & Denshaw on Saddleworth Parish Council and one of the first transgender councillors in Greater Manchester. They are an activist for trans rights within the labour movement and a member of the Labour for Trans Rights Secretariat.

Note for Attendees

Our events space has a ramp on entry, an accessible toilet and air purifier. If you have any access requirements then please let us know in advance of the event so we can make your visit as comfortable as we can. The history of the groups, campaigns and individuals who make up our collection at the Working Class Movement Library has a wide range of positions and the Library is committed to ensuring that this range is available for people to explore for themselves. Although respectful debate is encouraged, we will not tolerate sexism, homophobia, racism, transphobia, nor oppressive language or behaviour based on any structural inequality, including disability, socio-economic status, sexuality, age, education, religious affiliation, or gender expression. All who use our space, both the physical Library and its virtual spaces, share responsibility for maintaining it as a safe and welcoming one.