Common Ground Theatre Company
19th to 21st September 2024
Common Ground Theatre Company return to the Broadbent with Educating Rita, a moving comedy drama about a 26-year-old hairdresser on an educational journey of self-discovery.
Her university tutor is middle-aged, cycnical Frank, whose disillusioned outlook on life drives him to seek refuge in the bottles of whisky he hides on his bookshelves. But Rita is hungry to “know everything”, and despite Frank’s misgivings she embarks on an Open University course to begin her education.
After weeks of cajoling, Rita slowly wins over the Frank with her innate insights and her refusal to take no for an answer. Their relationship as teacher and student blossoms, ultimately giving Frank a new sense of self and Rita the knowledge she so craves.
Willy Russell’s stage play became a hit film in 1983 starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters.
