The two soon realise how much they have to learn from each other. Her tutor Frank is a frustrated poet, brilliant academic and dedicated drinker, who’s less than enthusiastic about taking Rita on, but the two soon realise how much they have to teach each other. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Her tutor Frank is a frustrated poet, brilliant academic and dedicated drinker, who’s less than enthusiastic about taking Rita on, but the two soon realise how much they have to teach each other. Max Roberts is Emeritus Artistic Director of Newcastle’s Live Theatre. Educating Rita tells the story of married hairdresser Rita, who enrols on an Open University course to expand her horizons, and her encounters with university tutor Frank. The production, directed by Max Roberts and starring Stephen Tompkinson as Frank and Jessica Johnson as Rita, was on a UK Tour when the Government closed theatres in March. She has always embraced change and so now, with social distancing – if you’ve got a closed theatre, she’ll reopen it – we are delighted we’re reopening the historic Rose Theatre, Kingston.”. Website: educatingrita.co.uk | Twitter.com/EducatingRitaUK | Facebook.com/EducatingRitaPlay, 28 October – 14 November | Rose Theatre Kingston | 020 8174 0090 | rosetheatre.org, 17 – 21 November | Shrewsbury Theatre Severn | 01743 281281 | www.theatresevern.co.uk, Jessica JohnsonJulie WaltersMichael CaineStephen TompkinsonWilly Russell. In a bid to help reopen as many theatres as possible with socially distanced, indoor performances, Pugh is excited to bring back to the nation this well-loved story and to help get the theatre industry back on track. Julia Walters appeared in the original production, reprising her role in the BAFTA, Golden Globes and Academy Award-winning film opposite Michael Caine. Russell’s other writing credits include the Olivier Award-winning musical Blood Brothers, and the hugely successful play Shirley Valentine, which won the Olivier Awards for Best New Comedy and Best New Actress, and a  Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play. In a bid to help reopen as many theatres as possible with socially distanced, indoor performances, Pugh is excited to bring back to the nation this well-loved story and to help get the theatre industry back on track. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Willy Russell continues to be one of the most celebrated writers of his generation with works constantly in production throughout the world as well as in the UK. The play was adapted for film and nominated for a host of BAFTA and Academy Awards. All images on our website are used with permission of their rights holder with no exception. Stephen Tompkinson’s television credits include ITV’s Torvill & Dean, BBC’s The Split, five series of DCI Banks, four series of Trollied, seven series of Wild at Heart, six series of Drop the Dead Donkey (British Comedy Award Winner for Best TV Comedy Actor) and three series of Ballykissangel, and his films include Phil in Brassed Off. In a bid to help reopen as many theatres as possible with socially distanced, indoor performances, Pugh is excited to bring back this well-loved story and to help get the theatre industry back on track. Under his direction, the Live Theatre has become one of the country’s most successful theatre companies with an outstanding reputation for developing new work. Educating Rita 2020 Tour Recommences! The tour will reopen at the Rose Theatre, Kingston, running from 28 October to 14 November. Educating Rita features set and costume designs by Patrick Connellan, lighting design by Drummond Orr and sound design by David Flynn. Her television credits include Wire In The Blood (ITV), Coronation Street (ITV) and Cuckoo (Channel 4). News: Educating Rita 2020 tour recommences Following the huge success of the run in August at the Minack Open Air Theatre, Cornwall, Olivier and Tony Award-winning producer David Pugh is delighted to announce that the acclaimed 40 th anniversary production of Willy Russell’s Educating Rita is coming back from Wednesday 28 October. Julie Walters reprised her role in the BAFTA, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning film opposite Michael Caine. It is produced by David Pugh and is a Theatre by the Lake production. Educating Rita was originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and played at the Warehouse Theatre, London in 1980, starring Julie Walters and Mark Kingston. He also directed The Pitman Painters, which transferred to the National Theatre and won Best Play at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards before opening on Broadway. We’re an independent theatre website | <. Following the huge success of the run in August at the Minack Open Air Theatre, Cornwall, Olivier and Tony Award-winning producer David Pugh is delighted to announce that the acclaimed 40th anniversary production of Willy Russell’s EDUCATING RITA is coming back from Wednesday 28 October. There are lots of ways to get involved too - so please get in touch if you would like to be part of it. The play was originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and played at the Warehouse Theatre, London in 1980, starring Julie Walters and Mark Kingston. She previously played Rita in Rebecca Frecknall’s 2017 production of Educating Rita at the Gala Theatre, Durham. MyTheatreMates publishes a selection of daily press releases sent to us by publicists of the relevant show or theatre. Our aim is to document the entire UK theatre scene. Her television credits include Wire In The Blood (ITV), Coronation Street (ITV) and Cuckoo (Channel 4). Stephen Tompkinson’s television credits include ITV’s Torvill & Dean, BBC’s The Split, five series of DCI Banks, four series of Trollied, seven series of Wild at Heart, six series of Drop the Dead Donkey (British Comedy Award Winner for Best TV Comedy Actor) and three series of Ballykissangel, and his films include Phil in Brassed Off. ( Log Out /  He also directed The Pitman Painters, which transferred to the National Theatre and won Best Play at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards before opening on Broadway. The tour will reopen at the Rose Theatre, Kingston, running from 28 October to 14 November. Jessica Johnson’s theatre credits include Call Me Mary Poppins, Goth Weekend, Kings and Queens, Each Piece and Anti-Gravity at the Live Theatre, Newcastle. This will be followed by a week at Shrewsbury Theatre Severn, with many more dates to be announced. 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( Log Out /  Her television credits include Wire In The Blood (ITV), Coronation Street (ITV) and Cuckoo (Channel 4). Website design & build by Digital Virtue. Stephen Tompkinson’s television credits include ITV’s Torvill & Dean, BBC’s The Split, five series of DCI Banks, four series of Trollied, seven series of Wild at Heart, six series of Drop the Dead Donkey (British Comedy Award Winner for Best TV Comedy Actor) and three series of Ballykissangel, and his films include Phil in Brassed Off.