Stephen Tompkinson will star in a new stage production of Educating Rita (Isabel Infantes/PA)
Stephen Tompkinson will star in a new stage production of Educating Rita, it has been announced.
The 1980 play by Willy Russell tells the story of married hairdresser Rita, who enrols in an Open University course to expand her horizons, and her encounters with university tutor Frank.
DCI Banks star Tompkinson will play the academic, who is a frustrated poet and heavy drinker, whose passion for literature is reignited by Rita.
Educating Rita (David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers and Theatre by the Lake)
Jessica Johnson will star in the title role of Rita, made famous by Dame Julie Walters in the original play and then the 1983 movie, which also starred Sir Michael Caine.
Johnson previously played Rita in Rebecca Frecknall’s 2017 production of Educating Rita at the Gala Theatre, Durham, and has previously appeared in Wire In The Blood and Coronation Street.
The play will be directed by Max Roberts and will open at Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, on April 18 before visiting The Lowry in Salford, Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre, Nottingham Theatre Royal, Theatre Clwyd in Mold, Bath Theatre Royal, Salisbury Playhouse, Exeter Northcott, Eden Court Theatre in Inverness, Wolverhampton Grand, Theatre Royal Wakefield, and Sheffield Lyceum.
Stephen Tompkinson to star in new stage production of Educating Rita
