Theatre review: Thought-provoking script complemented by brilliant acting.
Willy Russell’s play is well-known and the story set in Liverpool could easily have been marred by mediocre clichéd acting. Fortunately director Pete Davis was blessed with terrific performances from the two lead roles. Sharon Sully [Rita] and Stuart Lawson [Frank] did justice to these two intense and lengthy roles, giving their best performances to date.
Educating Rita
Performed at The Dorothea Mitchell Hall, Claverdon, Saturday 28 March 2026 by Young Performers Institute.
Thought-provoking script complemented by brilliant acting.
Willy Russell’s play is well-known and the story set in Liverpool could easily have been marred by mediocre clichéd acting. Fortunately director Pete Davis was blessed with terrific performances from the two lead roles. Sharon Sully [Rita] and Stuart Lawson [Frank] did justice to these two intense and lengthy roles, giving their best performances to date.
Sharon, in a miniskirt and pink heels, gave a perfect portrayal of Rita, the brash, loud, gobby young working class Scouser who had not tried at school because she wanted to fit in with her mates but came to realise that she wanted more from Life, so she enrolled on an Open University [OU] course whilst working as a hairdresser. Through numerous short scenes and changes of outfits, Sharon clearly established Rita’s frustrations with her life at being trapped, without choices, and wanting to find meaning. This was a high energy performance, which masked Rita’s nervousness and initial lack of confidence when interacting with Frank, professor of English Literature.
Sharon maintained both the vitality and the Scouse accent throughout.
There was a real authenticity to Sharon’s characterisation of the dilemma Rita felt, ensnared in a marriage with conflicting expectations, and increasingly alienated from her social group but also from the educated groups to which she aspired.
Stuart’s portrayal of Frank was diametrically opposite. Wearing the same outdated sports jacket with leather shoulder patches, Frank was lugubrious, numbing his cynicism with the office bottle. As they met weekly for tutorials in Frank’s office, their relationship developed as they increasingly understood each other.
However there was some fragility to their interactions as Rita became angry at Frank’s negativity and self pity, and conversely Frank became jealous of Rita changing from the ingenue to the confident and intelligent self confident woman. The OU was exactly meant for the Rita’s of this world and she was clearly going to seize her opportunities and start to fulfil her potential. Frank was a burnt out sot who did not recognise his privileges and narrowly avoided dismissal by being sent on long term sabbatical.
This was a huge script which could have been trimmed as the first act lasted 90 minutes. It is a further tribute to both actors that they delivered such assured top notch performances over the duration of the play.
Charles Essex