Caroline Chats to Brief Encounter Cast Members Isabel Pollen and Jim Sturgeon

I met with Isabel and Jim who play the leading roles of Laura and Alec in Brief Encounter. We spoke about what its like to recreate such an iconic film on stage. How the KneeHigh process differs from other companies and who would they invite to a dinner party.

Here are their biographies, so that you can learn a little more about them, before then watching the interview below.

Isabel Pollen

Isabel’s work in theatre includes the workshop of ‘Rebecca’ with Emma Rice and Kneehigh Theatre Company, ‘Mathematics of the Heart’ at Theatre 503 ‘The Observer’, and ‘An Enemy of The People’ at the National Theatre; and ‘Pericles’ ( co-production with Cardboard Citizens and RSC); ‘The Merchant of Venice’ for the RSC; ‘Top Girls’ , ‘Measure for Measure’, and ‘Arcadia’ at Manchester Library Theatre, ‘Merchant of Venice’ for AFTLS, ‘Warcrime’ at Theatre Underground; ‘Bright’ at Soho Theatre; ‘Action’ at the Young Vic; ‘Rosencrantz and Gildernstern Are Dead’ at the Arcola Theatre; and ‘All’s Well That Ends Well’ at Regents Park Open Air Theatre.

TV includes: Holby City, Law and Order, Runaway, Daylight Robbery, Touching Evil, Dream Team, Murphy’s Law, North and South, and Soundproof.

Films include: Joan of Arc, All You Can Eat and Runaway.

Numerous Radio plays.

Jim Sturgeon

Jim grew up on his family’s farm near Loch Lomond in Scotland and got his first taste of acting when he joined his local young farmers club and took part in their annual variety concerts.
On leaving school Jim worked on the farm until finally realising that it wasn’t for him and auditioned for a place in The Royal Scottish Academy Of Music And Drama where he won a place on the acting course.

After graduating with a BA in Acting Jim relocated to London to continue his career, although his first professional theatre jobs always brought him back across the boarder to his beloved homeland.

In 2013 Jim landed the role of Dr Alec Harvey in Kneehigh Theatre’s production of ‘Brief Encounter’ which gave him the opportunity to play in theatres in America and Australia, and he is delighted to be reprising the role in such an exciting production with such a talented cast during it’s West End return throughout 2018.

Theatre Credits include:

The Father (Wyndham’s – West End)

Lysistrata (Almeida – West End)

Brief Encounter (Kneehigh – USA/Australia Tour)

The Mill Lavvies/EQUUS/A Christmas Carol (Dundee Rep)

Hansel & Gretel/Beauty & The Beast/LIAR (Citizen Theatre)

Betrayal (Harold Pinter – West End)

A Sheep Called Skye (National Theatre of Scotland)

Yellow On The Broom (Perth Theatre)

Attempts On Her Life (Tron Theatre)

Film credits include:

In The Darkest Hour (Burning Horseshoe Productions)

My Dinner With Herve (HBO Films)

First And Only (Encaptivate)

Boogie Man (Head Gear Films)

Down A Dark Hall (Lionsgate)

Justice League (Warner Bros)

The Man With The Iron Heart (Adama Pictures)

Meet Pursuit Delange – The Movie (Factory Film Prod Ltd)

Iona (Bard Entertainments)

’71 (Warp Films)

Edge Of Tomorrow (Warner Bros)

The Last Piper (Norland)

Will (Strangelove Films)

A Demon Within (24 Carrot Films)

Spare Change (Lightfoot Pictures)

Night People (MeadKerr Productions)

Afterlife (Gabriel Films)

Television credits include:

A.D.-The Bible Continues (NBC/Warner Bros)

The Cannibal In The Jungle (The Discovery Channel)

Vera (ITV)

Katie Morag – series regular (BBC)

Shetland (ITV)

Hope Springs (BBC)

Tinsel Town (Channel 4)

LISTINGS INFORMATION

BRIEF ENCOUNTER

Until 9 September 2018

Empire Cinema

63-65 Haymarket

St James’s

London SW1Y 4RL

Box Office:  0844 8717628

Tickets:  From £25

Performances:  Tuesday – Saturday 7:30pm, Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday 3:00pm

Running Time:  90 minutes (no interval)

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