EDUCATING RITA Set for Mercury Theatre Colchester, Begin. Feb 26

One of the great comic stories of the last four decades, Educating Rita comes to the Mercury Theatre Colchester this February.

This new production, celebrating the 35th anniversary of Willy Russell's classic play, will be directed by Patrick Sandford and stars Samantha Robinson and Dougal Lee. Opening on Thursday, February 26 and running until Saturday, March 14, Educating Rita is the story of a hairdresser in search of adventure and the education she never got at school.

Patrick Sandford was Artistic Director of the Nuffield Theatre Southampton for 25 years. He was previously Artistic Director of the Redgrave Theatre, Farnham, and the Lyric Theatre, Belfast, where he produced a series of plays about the political troubles. Patrick's work has been seen throughout the UK, including London's West End, and also abroad, in countries such as France, Germany, Australia and South Africa, where he was nominated Best Director in The Fleur du Cap awards for A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Patrick said:
"Any director loves working on a great play and this is one of the best plays of the last forty years. The subject is not really Frank teaching Rita about literature; it's about Rita finding out who she really is and having the confidence to be herself. We all have to find out who we are and I think this is why so many people of all ages have identified with the story and loved it."

He added:
"Of course it's also a love story. Frank falls for the woman he is helping and he finds it impossible to control Rita as her newfound independence takes her away from him. Can he hold her? That's the thriller aspect of the play. We don't know how their relationship will turn out until the very end."

Taking on the role of headstrong Rita is Samantha Robinson. Samantha's recent credits include the part of Jean in ITV's Cilla, Mary in The Grand Gesture at Northern Broadsides, and Cindy in Dead, Heavy, Fantastic at Liverpool Everyman.

Samantha said:
"It's been a career-long desire to play Rita, and I'm relishing the chance to bring to life a character that resonates so profoundly with me. I'm a big fan of Willy Russell and his script is packed with intensity and fun."

Opposite Samantha, in the role of Frank, is Dougal Lee. Dougal has worked extensively in theatre and played George in the original West End cast of Don't Dress for Dinner at the Apollo, Shaftesbury Avenue. He has also had eleven summer seasons at Pitlochry Festival Theatre in numerous productions including My Fair Lady, The 39 Steps and Arsenic and Old Lace.

Dougal said:
"One of the things I love about Educating Rita is Willy Russell's acute understanding of the joy to be gained from knowledge, education, academic discovery, curiosity; and the ease with which such things can become commonplace and jaded to the person who is in the position to take them for granted."

Director Patrick had the following to say about his Rita and Frank:
"Samantha is a terrific young actress. I worked with her in a tragedy, The House of Barnada Alba and she was very moving. I am looking forward to working with her in a comedy. It's fantastic that she is a genuine Liverpudlian and her sister is a hairdresser!"

He added:
"Dougal Lee is a frighteningly brainy actor but above all he knows how to play comedy. He is also so genuinely charming that audiences will warm to him immediately."
Educating Rita will play at the Mercury Theatre from Thursday, February 26 until Saturday, March 14. Tickets start at £10.