Educating Rita is a stage comedy by British playwright Willy Russell . It is a play for two actors set entirely in the office of an Open University tutor.
58-537: Commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company , Educating Rita premièred at The Warehouse , London, in June 1980 starring Julie Walters and Mark Kingston . The play was directed by Mike Ockrent . The plays follows the relationship between a 26-year-old Liverpudlian working class hairdresser and Frank, a middle-aged university lecturer, during the course of a year. In the play Frank has no surname, but when
116-421: A Victorian-Gothic building seating just over 700 people, opened on 23 April 1879, with a performance of Much Ado About Nothing , a title which gave ammunition to several critics. The Memorial, a red brick Gothic cathedral, designed by Dodgshun and Unsworth of Westminster , was unkindly described by Bernard Shaw as "an admirable building, adaptable to every purpose except that of a theatre." From 1919, under
174-594: A celebration of 'Shakespeare as the world's playwright' working with UK and international arts organisations, and including the Globe to Globe Festival by Shakespeare's Globe. The same year, planning permission was granted by Stratford District Council to reinstate The Other Place . Funding for the new theatre came from a £3 million grant from the Arts Council England, raised through the National Lottery. Funding
232-528: A combination of artistic excellence and quiet husbandry, including a year-long Complete Works of Shakespeare Festival (begun in April 2006 in collaboration with other theatre companies) plus a financially successful London season at the Novello Theatre in 2006, Boyd slowly rebuilt the company's fortunes and reputation In 2007 he launched the long-awaited Stratford theatre redevelopments, including construction of
290-530: A minimalist set at The Other Place, playing for 2 hours 15 minutes without an interval. The small, nearly round stage focused attention on the psychological dynamics of the characters. Both Ian McKellen in the title role and Judi Dench as Lady Macbeth received exceptionally favourable reviews. The production transferred to London, opening at the Donmar Warehouse in September 1977 before its further transfer to
348-594: A monumental, year-round operation built around a permanent company, a London base and contemporary work from home and abroad. Looking back, it is difficult to realise just how radical Hall's dream was at the time; or indeed how much opposition there was to the creation of what became officially known in March 1961 as the Royal Shakespeare Company." John Barton had been appointed associate director in January 1960, and
406-636: A new suite of education spaces on Waterside. In 2011, BP began to subsidised the RSC's £5 ticket scheme for 16 to 25-year-olds. In summer 2011 the company undertook a residency in Park Avenue Armory , New York, running a series of performances and an accompanying education programme in partnership with the NYC Department of Education . In 2012, the RSC produced the World Shakespeare Festival,
464-452: A plan for what would become The Other Place studio theatre in Stratford, designed by Michael Reardon to seat 140 people, which opened to a first and highly successful season in 1974. The name chosen for the new studio space was favoured within the company because it implied an alternative theatre, but also because it is a quotation from Hamlet . In August 1976, Nunn staged Macbeth with
522-470: A primary objective. David Addenbrooke wrote of Hall's belief that Shakespeare, more than any other dramatist, needed a 'style', a tradition and unity of direction and acting. On 14 January 1960, Hall's first policy statement as director also proposed the acquisition of a second theatre, in London, to be used as a city outlet for selected Stratford productions. The RSC was formally established on 20 March 1961 with
580-713: A production Off-Broadway at the Westside Theatre produced by the Steppenwolf Theater Company. From June to July 2001, the Williamstown Theatre Festival mounted a production of Educating Rita at the Nikos Stage starring Jacqueline McKenzie as Rita and Edward Herrmann as Frank. The production was directed by Bruce Paltrow and was critically acclaimed with critics touting McKenzie's performance as "wonderfully beguiling and irrepressible...one of
638-521: A production of The Two Noble Kinsmen by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher (not published until 1634 and thought to be Shakespeare's last work for the stage). It was directed by Barry Kyle . The RSC's costume department is 'the largest in-house costume-making workshop in British theatre' and 'world-renowned'. In 2021, the RSC raised over £8 million for a project to update the costume and prop department. Alistair McArthur, head of costume, called
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#1732901419147696-494: A radical scheme aimed at rescuing the RSC from its financial crisis by replacing the Royal Shakespeare Theatre with a crowd-pleasing 'Shakespeare Village' and streamlining the company's performance structure and ensemble principle. None of Noble's plans came to fruition. He left the job, an unhappy man, in March 2003. Michael Boyd then assumed control of the RSC, now burdened with a deficit of £2.8 million. By
754-538: A small auditorium in 1971. At the insistence of Sir Trevor Nunn (who had taken over as artistic director in 1968), the company hired The Place off the Euston Road in London and constructed its own theatre space for an audience of 330, seated on raked wooden benches. Two seasons of plays were staged in 1972 and 1973, none suitable for the Aldwych. In December 1973 Buzz Goodbody , the company's first female director, drew up
812-617: A year. The RSC plays regularly in London , Stratford-upon-Avon, and on tour across the UK and internationally. The company's home is in Stratford-upon-Avon, where it has redeveloped its Royal Shakespeare and Swan theatres as part of a £112.8-million "Transformation" project. The theatres re-opened in November 2010, having closed in 2007. As well as the plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries,
870-582: Is also given each year. The Olivier Awards are recognised internationally as the highest honour in British theatre , equivalent to the BAFTA Awards for film and television, and the BRIT Awards for music. The Olivier Awards are considered equivalent to Broadway 's Tony Awards and France's Molière Award . Since inception, the awards have been held at various venues and theatres across London, from 2012 to 2016 at
928-477: Is announced. July 2006 – The Courtyard Theatre opens with a staging of Michael Boyd's Histories. November 2010 – The Royal Shakespeare and Swan Theatres re-open following their transformation. March 2016 – The Other Place was reinstated as a 200-seat studio theatre. In 1959, while still the director-designate of the Memorial Theatre, Peter Hall announced that the formation of a permanent company would be
986-442: Is impressed by Susan's verve and earnestness and is forced to re-examine his attitudes and position in life; Susan finds Frank's tutelage opens doors to a bohemian lifestyle and a new self-confidence. However, Frank's bitterness and cynicism return as he notices Susan beginning to adopt the pretensions of the university culture he despises. Susan becomes disillusioned by a friend's attempted suicide and realises that her new social niche
1044-407: Is made up of a mix of professional panellists (journalists, casting directors, arts administrators, publishers and other industry professionals chosen for their knowledge in the field) and members of the public who are passionate about London theatre. The panels first select the shows they consider most worthy of an Olivier Award nomination, then vote on a winner at the end of the judging period. For
1102-400: Is rife with the same dishonesty and superficiality she had previously sought to escape. The play ends as Frank, sent to Australia on a sabbatical, welcomes the possibilities of the change. The play deals with the concept of freedom, change, Britain's class system, the shortcomings of institutional education, and the nature of self-development and of personal relationships. The play borrows from
1160-555: Is the sole British member theatre of the Union of the Theatres of Europe . In March 2008, the RSC launched a manifesto 'Stand up for Shakespeare', a campaign to promote a positive experience of Shakespeare for children and young people. The tenets of this manifesto, Do It on Your Feet, See It Live, Start It Earlier form the basis of the work of the Education department. In 2010, the RSC opened
1218-519: Is then voted on by both members and panellists to produce the winners. Past hosts of the Olivier Awards ceremony include Michael Ball , Imelda Staunton , Clive Anderson , Gemma Arterton , Stephen Mangan , Hugh Bonneville , Sheridan Smith , Lenny Henry , Catherine Tate , Jason Manford and Hannah Waddingham . The venue most associated with the Awards is Grosvenor House Hotel , which has housed
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#17329014191471276-566: The Barbican Centre under the auspices of the City of London. The RSC was closely involved in the design of these two venues. In 2002 it left the Barbican after a series of allegedly poor seasons, partly because the then artistic director Adrian Noble wanted to develop the company's touring performances. His decision means the company has no regular London home. The RSC had first tackled its need for
1334-642: The Royal Opera House , before moving to the Royal Albert Hall in 2017. Television coverage is broadcast in prime time on ITV1 , who acquired the rights from 2013 onwards, with radio coverage by Magic Radio . Standing at the Sky's Edge Previous Best Play Prima Facie Operation Mincemeat Best Play Dear England The awards were established in 1976 by the Society of London Theatre as
1392-636: The Society of London Theatre to recognise excellence in professional theatre in London . The awards were originally known as the Society of West End Theatre Awards , but they were renamed in honour of the British actor of the same name in 1984. The awards are given annually to individuals involved in West End productions and other leading non-commercial theatres based in London across a range of categories covering plays, musicals, dance, opera and affiliate theatre. A discretionary non-competitive Special Olivier Award
1450-466: The Warwickshire Company of Comedians , agreed to perform it. A surviving copy of the playbill records that the company performed Othello . The first building erected to commemorate Shakespeare was David Garrick 's Jubilee Pavilion in 1769, and there have been at least 17 buildings used to perform Shakespeare's plays since. The first permanent commemorative building to Shakespeare's works in
1508-469: The 1913 George Bernard Shaw play Pygmalion , itself based upon archetypes from Greek myth . The play was adapted by Russell for a 1983 film with Michael Caine and Julie Walters , directed by Lewis Gilbert . The play was adapted by Russell for radio in 2009. It starred Bill Nighy and Laura Dos Santos directed by Kirsty Williams , and was a 90-minute play broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Boxing Day 2009. In 1987, Laurie Metcalf starred as Rita in
1566-790: The BP sponsorship is putting a barrier between them and their wish to engage with the RSC". In February 2021, the RSC announced five new members to its board of trustees: Andrew Miller, Amanda Parker, Winsome Pinnock , Justine Themen and Ayanna Thompson . It was announced that Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey would become joint Artistic Directors from June 2023. Their first season was announced on 16 January 2024 commencing from April. The RSC has three permanent theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon: Olivier Award The Laurence Olivier Awards , or simply The Olivier Awards , are presented annually by
1624-666: The Chichester Festival staged a production with Lenny Henry and Lashana Lynch as Frank and Rita. The original production received the 1980 Olivier Award nomination for Comedy Performance of the Year for Julie Walters and won for Comedy of the Year. Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company ( RSC ) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon , Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and opens around 20 productions
1682-617: The King & Country Tour. The same year, the Royal Shakespeare Company also opened their first permanent exhibition, entitled The Play's The Thing. On 23 April 2016, the RSC performed a one night extravaganza, called 'Shakespeare Live!'. Broadcast on BBC Two from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, it marked the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's Death. It involved a collection of Shakespeare scenes and monologues with appearances from David Tennant , Catherine Tate , Dame Judi Dench , Benedict Cumberbatch and even one from Prince Charles . In June 2019,
1740-452: The RSC commissioned a completely new edition of Shakespeare's First Folio, titled " William Shakespeare Complete Works" and published by Modern Library . To provide balance, Simon Trowbridge in A Royal Shakespeare Company Book , published in 2017, is highly critical of aspects of the Boyd years, including his decision to redevelop the Royal Shakespeare Theatre as a second Swan Theatre. The RSC
1798-438: The RSC produces new work from living artists. There have been theatrical performances in Stratford-upon-Avon since at least Shakespeare's day, though the first recorded performance of a play written by Shakespeare himself was in 1746 when Parson Joseph Greene, master of Stratford Grammar School, organised a charitable production to fund the restoration of Shakespeare's funerary monument . John Ward 's Birmingham -based company,
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1856-515: The RSC to take over from Hands as artistic director and chief executive. The company had serious funding problems. Noble's decision to sever all RSC connections with the Barbican Centre, funded by the Corporation of the City of London, was widely condemned, and towards the end of his tenure things began to go terribly wrong, partly through his pursuit and support of the so-called Project Fleet ,
1914-404: The RSC when the company opened The Swan , its third theatre in Stratford. The Swan Theatre, also designed by Michael Reardon , has a deep thrust stage and a galleried, intimate 450-capacity auditorium. The space was to be dedicated to playing the works of Shakespeare's contemporaries, the works of European writers and the occasional work of Shakespeare. The theatre was launched on 8 May 1986 with
1972-429: The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Terry Hands and actor Alan Howard had a marathon year working on Henry V , a virtually uncut, Henry VI, part 1 , Henry VI, part 2 and Henry VI, part 3 and Coriolanus . And the action at The Other Place included Jonson, Ford, Musset, Gems and Rudkin. No other company in the world could match that output for quantity and quality". Nunn and Hands were joint artistic directors of
2030-642: The Society of West End Theatre Awards and were designed by artist Tom Merrifield. The first ceremony was in December 1976 at the Café Royal . In 1984, British actor Laurence Olivier gave his consent for the awards to be renamed in his honour and they became known as the Laurence Olivier Awards. Every year, judging panels for theatre, opera, dance and affiliate shows are put together by the Society of London Theatre. For opera, dance and affiliates, each panel
2088-465: The actor Mark Rylance resigned from the RSC over its sponsorship deal with oil company BP . In October 2019, the RSC announced that it would be ending its partnership with BP at the end of year following criticism of its association with the oil company. A week before, school students threatened to boycott the theatre company if it did not sever links with the firm. A spokesperson for the RSC explained that "Young people are now saying clearly to us that
2146-585: The after-show reception nine times and hosted the whole event on four further occasions. As well as at the Grosvenor, the presentations have been held at the Albery Theatre (now Noël Coward), Café Royal, Dominion Theatre , London Palladium , Lyceum Theatre , Park Lane Hilton , Piccadilly Theatre , Royal National Theatre Olivier , Royalty Theatre (now Peacock), Shaftesbury Theatre , Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Victoria Palace Theatre . The awards ceremony
2204-707: The best performances of the year". From 26 March to 8 May 2010, as part of the Willy Russell season at the Menier Chocolate Factory , Laura Dos Santos reprised her radio performance on stage as Rita alongside Larry Lamb as Frank. This was the production's first London West End revival. This production transferred to the Trafalgar Studios in London's West End from 8 July to 30 October 2010, produced by Sonia Friedman . Laura Dos Santos reprised her radio and Menier Chocolate Factory performance as Rita, and Frank
2262-472: The brunt of media hostility during a difficult few years for the company. Hands took the decision to suspend the RSC's residency at The Barbican Theatre and The Pit during the winter season of 1990–91, thus vacating the capital for the first time in 30 years. This was seen as essential if the RSC was to secure an increase in subsidy from the Arts Council. Shortly after that decision Adrian Noble returned to
2320-513: The company's sole Artistic Director and Chief Executive (in 1978 he began to share power with Terry Hands). In London, the company opened a new studio space at the Donmar Warehouse with plays by Barker, Taylor, Bond and Brecht. Its Aldwych repertory combined the usual Stratford transfers with Nichol 's Privates on Parade , Ibsen's Pillars of the Community and Brecht's The Days of the Commune . At
2378-431: The corporation and the Stratford theatre becomes 'Royal Shakespeare.' 1974 – The Other Place opened, created from a prefabricated former store/rehearsal room in Stratford. 1986 – The Swan Theatre opened, created from the shell of the 1879 Memorial Theatre. 1991 – Purpose-built new Other Place, designed by Michael Reardon, opens. September 2004 – The vision for the renewal of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre transformation
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2436-459: The direction of William Bridges-Adams and after a slow start, its resident New Shakespeare Company became one of the most prestigious in Britain. The theatre received a royal charter of Incorporation in 1925, which gave it status. On the afternoon of 6 March 1926, when a new season was about to commence rehearsals, smoke was seen. Fire broke out, and the mass of half-timbering chosen to ornament
2494-425: The direction of Sir Barry Jackson in 1945, Anthony Quayle from 1948 to 1956 and Glen Byam Shaw 1957–1959, with an impressive roll-call of actors. Scott's building, with some minor adjustments to the stage, remained in constant use until 2007 when it was closed for a major refit of the interior. Timeline: 1932 – New Shakespeare Memorial Theatre opens, abutting the remains of the old. 1961 – Chartered name of
2552-408: The event, while Paul Gambaccini presented a programme on BBC Radio 2 with live coverage and interviews. The same coverage followed in 2012 before ITV secured the broadcast rights, which saw the return of the Olivier Awards to mainstream television in 2013. This has continued in recent years, and the ceremony has also been broadcast on Magic Radio . Some notable records and facts about
2610-551: The film was made he became Dr. Frank Bryant. Susan (who initially calls herself Rita), dissatisfied with the routine of her work and social life, seeks inner growth by signing up for and attending an Open University course in English Literature. The play opens as 'Rita' meets her tutor, Frank, for the first time. Frank is a middle-aged, alcoholic career academic who has taken on the tutorship to pay for his drink. The two have an immediate and profound effect on one another; Frank
2668-464: The interior provided dry tinder. By the following morning the theatre was a blackened shell. The company transferred its Shakespeare festivals to a converted local cinema. Fund-raising began for the rebuilding of the theatre, with generous donations arriving from philanthropists in America . In January 1928, following an open competition, 29-year-old Elisabeth Scott was unanimously appointed architect for
2726-420: The larger Young Vic venue for a two-month season. It was also recorded for transmission by Thames Television . In 2004, members of the RSC voted Dench's performance the greatest by an actress in the history of the company. Summing up this triumphant period, The Guardian critic Michael Billington later wrote: "[In 1977] the RSC struck gold. This was, in fact, the perihelion of Trevor Nunn's ten-year reign as
2784-477: The new theatre which became the first important work erected in the United Kingdom from the designs of a female architect. George Bernard Shaw commented that her design was the only one that showed any theatre sense. Her modernist plans for an art deco structure came under fire from many directions but the new building was opened triumphantly on William Shakespeare 's birthday, 23 April 1932. Later it came under
2842-561: The old working space "Dickensian" and added, "If we knew there was rain coming we'd have to clear everything off the table the night before." The prop-makers design and make many of their own props for the many productions. A 'Prop Shop' in Stratford-upon-Avon is the studio in which most of the props are made. Nunn (who had been appointed to follow Hall's tenure at the National Theatre in 1968) ceded his RSC executive directorship in 1986 to his co-artistic director Terry Hands , who bore
2900-538: The royal announcement that the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre would henceforth be known as the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the company as the Royal Shakespeare Company. The critic Michael Billington , summarising these events, wrote: "In 1960 the twenty-nine-year-old Peter Hall formally took charge at Stratford-upon-Avon and set about turning a star-laden, six-month Shakespeare festival into
2958-609: The sole subsidised company operating in London. Following a deal with Prince Littler , managing director of Associated Theatre Properties, the RSC established the Aldwych Theatre as its London base for productions transferred from Stratford to London, its stage redesigned to match the RST's apron stage. Twenty years later, in the summer of 1982, the company took up London residence in both the Barbican Theatre and The Pit studio space in
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#17329014191473016-601: The temporary Courtyard Theatre while work was in progress, designed to house his RSC Histories cycle before its transfer to the Roundhouse in London in 2008. Talking of these achievements with typical modesty he told the Evening Standard in December 2007 ('The Man Who Remade the RSC'): "There was a bit of gardening to do, but we are now beginning to show signs of walking the walk." 'The Histories' ensemble went on to win three Olivier awards in 2009. In addition, that same year
3074-415: The theatre awards, a longlist is compiled by a panel made up of members of the public, and submitted to SOLT members to vote on. Members may still vote outside of the list at this stage, except for in the four Supporting Actor/Actress categories (as these each contain thousands of eligible performers). The members’ votes are collated with those of the panellists to create the list of nominees. The nominees list
3132-458: The town was a theatre built in 1827, in the gardens of New Place, but has long since been demolished. The RSC's history began with the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, which was the brainchild of a local brewer, Charles Edward Flower. He donated a 2-acre (0.81 ha) site by the River Avon and in 1875 launched an international campaign to build a theatre in the town of Shakespeare's birth. The theatre,
3190-925: Was also received from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation , The Backstage Trust, and from public donations; this is the final phase of the Transformation project. Live from Stratford-upon-Avon, a new project to broadcast the company's productions in cinemas around the world and stream them into schools was announced in May 2013. The project began with Shakespeare's Richard II , starring David Tennant , in November 2013, and followed up with Henry IV parts 1 and 2 and The Two Gentlemen of Verona in 2014. In February 2016, Artistic Director Gregory Doran's productions of Henry IV Part I and Henry IV Part II , and Henry V went on tour in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong as part of
3248-523: Was followed in 1962 by Michel Saint-Denis , Peter Brook and Clifford Williams who joined the company as resident directors. John Bury was appointed head of design in 1964. The repertoire was also widened to take in modern work and classics other than Shakespeare. In 1962, strong opposition to the establishment of a London base for the RSC came from the Royal National Theatre which – led by Viscount Chandos and Laurence Olivier – wished to be
3306-459: Was held at the Royal Opera House from 2012 to 2016, moving to the Royal Albert Hall in 2017. The first Laurence Olivier Awards to be broadcast on television was the 1981 ceremony, which was broadcast on BBC1 . This continued until 1992, before a switch to BBC2 until 2003. The awards ceremony was then only broadcast on radio until 2011, when the BBC broadcast live interactive red-button coverage of
3364-572: Was played by renowned actor Tim Pigott-Smith . Like the Willy Russell season at the Menier Chocolate Factory, the production ran in repertory alongside Shirley Valentine starring Meera Syal . A UK tour played in 2012, starring Claire Sweeney and Matthew Kelly as Rita and Frank respectively. A 35th anniversary production was staged at Liverpool Playhouse from 6 February to 7 March 2015, starring Leanne Best as Rita and Con O'Neill as Frank, directed by Gemma Bodinetz. The same year
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