A new UK tour of Willy Russell’s hit play, Educating Rita is coming to the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham 24 - 28 August starring Stephen Tomkinson and Jessica Johnson as Frank and Rita.

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. 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.

Olivier and Tony Award-winning producer David Pugh said: “Rita is the most extraordinary character - she wanted to change and learn so much and that’s everything we’re all going through at the moment, to adapt to the world as it is now. What we know is that Educating Rita gives you a great night out at the theatre and that’s the best any of us can hope for.”

Stephen Tompkinson has appeared in numerous TV shows including The Split; DCI Banks; Trollied; Wild at Heart; Drop the Dead Donkey (British Comedy Award Winner for Best TV Comedy Actor) and Ballykissangel as well as in films and theatre.

Jessica Johnson previously played Rita in Rebecca Frecknall’s 2017 production of Educating Rita and has appeared on TV in Wire In The Blood; Coronation Street and Cuckoo.

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. 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.

To book tickets call the box office on 01242 572573 or online via the website.