A major new stage production of Willy Russell’s Educating Rita comes to Malvern Theatres from Monday, August 5 to Saturday, August 10.

Starring Stephen Tompkinson as Frank, and introducing Jessica Johnson as Rita, the play will be directed by Max Roberts, and 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. Frank is a frustrated poet, brilliant academic and dedicated drinker, who is less than enthusiastic about teaching Rita. However, Frank soon finds that his passion for literature is reignited by Rita, whose technical ability for the subject is limited by her lack of education, but whose enthusiasm Frank finds refreshing. The two soon realise how much they have to learn from each other.

The play was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and played at the Warehouse Theatre, London in 1980, starring Julie Walters and Mark Kingston. Julie Walters reprised her role in the BAFTA, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning film opposite Michael Caine.

Born in Liverpool in 1947, Willy Russell left school at 15 and became a women’s hairdresser and part-time singer/songwriter before returning to education to retrain as a teacher. 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.

Stephen Tompkinson’s television credits include seven series of Wild at Heart, six series of Drop the Dead Donkey and three series of Ballykissangel.

Jessica Johnson has previously played Rita in Rebecca Frecknall’s 2017 production of Educating Rita at the Gala Theatre, Durham.

Educating Rita will be on stage at Malvern Theatres from Monday, August 5 to Saturday, August 10. To book, call the box office on 01684 892277 or visit malvern-theatres.co.uk