Witty tale of self-discovery

The show is the first co-production from The Dukes, Lancaster, and the New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme, both theatres-in-the-round.

Educating Rita is part of Dukes Artistic Director Sarah Punshon’s first spring season at the theatre.

Sarah had a personal reason for choosing the play about a Liverpool hairdresser who seeks to educate herself through the Open University, as both she and her mother went to university in the same year, her mum returning to education after leaving school aged 15.

Sarah said: “This year is all about celebrating the emancipation of women and Rita’s story reflects that.

“It also felt like the ideal show for me to direct in my first spring season at The Dukes because it’s a play about someone who changes their life through the arts and that’s what we do here.”

Educating Rita is a witty exploration of class, privilege and the power of literature, written Liverpool playwright Willy Russell, himself a former hairdresser.

Eager to escape the trivial conversations at work, Rita, played by Lauryn Redding, enrols on an Open University course and meets tutor Frank , played by Andrew Pollard, a frustrated poet, tutor and borderline alcoholic.

Taking her under his wing, he attempts to guide her on a journey of self-discovery and learning.

Driven to succeed, witty Rita challenges the stereotypes of the class and education system, confounding everyone’s expectations – including her own.

Lauryn has just finished playing Darby McGraw in Treasure Island at the New Vic and Andrew recently completed a seven-month national tour playing Phileas Fogg in the New Vic, Kenny Wax Family Entertainment and Simon Friend co-production of Around The World In Eighty Days. The pair last appeared together in the 2016 New Vic production of Peter Pan In Scarlet.

Educating Rita can be seen at the SJT until Saturday, May 12. Tickets are priced from £10, and can be booked at the box office on 01723 370541 or via the website: www.sjt.uk.com