ON the big screen it is widely regarded as one of the most romantic movies of all time.

Now Brief Encounter is to take to the stage in Manchester before it heads into London’s West End.

Jim Sturgeon who plays the lead role of Dr Alec Harvey is a veteran of the production, having been in the show on tour in Australia and America.

“It’s such a beautiful production,” he said. “Emma Rice (the director) has taken excerpts from Still Life which was the short story Noel Coward originally wrote and bits of the film and blended them into this magic show which the audience just seems to really get.”

A chance meeting on a station platform - in the 1945 David Lean film, Carnforth Station was the setting - leads to two strangers being faced with the dilemma of leaving their settled lives behind them for each other.

“It still has the feeling of being a period piece to a degree,” said Jim. “But it’s something that still happens today. There’s not so much of a scandal now about having an affair outside of the marriage as it was back then.

“Actually it probably wouldn’t happen now with the likes of Tinder. That’s how couples meet now apparently,” he laughed.

“You might think it’s a dated story but in fact it’s still so relevant. The audience is caught up in the circumstances these two people find themselves in.

“It’s not seedy, it’s not about sex, it’s about love. They are kindred spirits who would have been perfect together in a different world and in a different life.”

It is 10 years since the award-winning production from Kneehigh Theatre first made its debut in the West End. Its innovative use of film and music has won a whole new audience.

The current cast shot a number of scenes which were filmed in black and white and which are used on a big screen during the production.

“Sadly we didn’t get to go up to Carnforth for filming,” said Jim. “That would have been amazing.”

Although based on a quintessentially British film, audiences around the world have taken to the production.

“Australian audiences loved it but there was something about America where they really grabbed hold of it,” said Jim “I think the true love element really got them. They would wait for us after the show to ask questions and to see if we knew what happened.”

Like the film, the production leaves the audience wondering if the couple would leave their families behind for a new life together.

“I think it’s nice left like that,” said Jim. “I like the idea of it being kept open and audience goes home discussing what might have happened.”

So what does Jim think would have happened?

“Emma, the director, and I still don’t agree on it,” he said.

“I think Alec is a good man and an honest man and whether or not there is something there, I think he would go back to his wife.

“I just think he’s too good a man to run away and discard his family. Emma on the other hand believes in the love conquers all theory.”

The audience is involved in the production from the outset.

“They are involved even before curtain goes up,” he said. “The cast go out and act as ushers and there are some songs as they are arriving. It’s great that the audience know immediately that this is a show they can get involved in.”

Brief Encounter, the Lowry, Salford Quays, Tuesday, February 20 to Saturday, February 24. Details from 0843 208 6000 or www.thelowry.com