![]() ![]() 'There have been productions that have tried to set it in a contemporary setting, but the difference between education today and 1979 is so vast it doesn't do the play any favours to make it a contemporary tale. The new production will be set 'firmly in its own time' of 1979 explained Russell. I'm not one to lose touch with reality, but if I ever showed any signs of getting slightly wonderful I'd be cut down and put in my place, rightly so!' I was very fortunate to always have good strong women around me during that early success. Russell recalls: 'That's when everything kind of happened, everything went ballistic during that period. It won huge acclaim, winning BAFTAs and Golden Globes, and Oscar nominations. The success of the play was followed by the hit 1983 movie starring Michael Caine and Walters reprising her role of Rita. Russell says he thinks of the play with great affection, not least because of the success of the original 1980 production at the Warehouse Theatre (now Donmar Warehouse), where Julie Walters first played the role of Rita opposite Mark Kingston as Frank. So, to be talking about it 40 years later reminds me of how gloriously wrong and stupid playwrights can be!' 'When it first opened, I remember saying to Mike the original director, "It's not actually got much stagecraft to it this, it's just a series of scenes". ![]() It is 40 years since award-winning playwright Willy Russell wrote Educating Rita - it remains one of his best loved works, regularly performance around the world. For Russell, it's a time for reflection on the success of his play. ![]()
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