VOLUntEER FORM

Second round of auditions for Educating Rita- in the Theatre

Educating Rita is a play about education and choice. Set in the chaotic splendour of a university lecturer’s study/tutorial room, the play’s two characters share a language but each speak a very different tongue.

This delicious, rich and bold play has now become a modern classic. It’s in my top three favourite plays of all time. Now I have this amazing opportunity to transform it from my mind and create a spellbinding production. With all the highs, lows, pathos and belly laughs of what captivated me in the first place along with my creative spark and experience to deliver a must see production. So I’m taking it with both hands and inviting you to come along for the ride.

I intend to draw on my 20 years of theatre to put together a fabulous cast, so I am looking for some who can captivate the audience, knows how to use the stage and has a real stage presence in order to bring Rita and Frank to life:

Rita -:
Playing Age – 20s to 40s:
A charismatic hairdresser, who is stuck in a dead end relationship with her Husband. Rita is determined to fight for a better life.

Rita is fearlessly determined and extremely knowledgeable. A working Class girl who signs up for an Open University course in order to better herself. Her husband Denny disapproves of this, telling her to stop her education or he’s moving out.

Rita is full of wit, jokes and yet subtle, emotional and personal on lots of levels with good comedy timing.

Rita – Ideally Liverpudlian but Mancuinan is a good possibility or anything ‘working class’ – Northern

Frank – A well educated man. Good pronunciation but most often tipsy or drunk!

Rita and Frank need to have a clear social class divide.

Frank:
Playing age late 30s to 60s
Frank is a long standing university tutor who signs up for the Open University to either help someone out, earn a little more or avoid his failing relationships. Frank has taken to drinking heavily and had enough of his boring life. Frank was a little known poet but stopped writing when his wife left him. When Rita comes falling through the door he doesn’t know quite how to deal with this working class woman, as she doesn’t know Charles Dickens from Howard’s End. He takes a gulp of fresh air as his world is blown open by Rita. Even though Frank is living with Julia (An ex-student of his).It’s not long before he starts to have feelings for Rita.

As he seeks to relive his youth through his new student he then realises he missed the boat as Rita finds culture, friendship, courage and a whole new life from beyond the walls of Frank’s cluttered, whisky soaked university office.

It’s set in the 1980s and I’m placing it right in the heart of this fantastic decade. There will be lots of music and possibly a singer/singers on stage to set the tone. Music will be the guide of Rita’s battle with her family, friends, Frank and above all herself. There will be music and songs that will reflect Frank’s inspiration, frustration and passion. The set will be one set with movable pieces that I would like the cast to move from one scene to another in a choreographed ‘dance’ that will give the production continuity, pace and fluidity where we can.

Rita and Frank need a spark between them. I intend the set to be treated as another character, so interaction with the set on a multitude of levels from both actors is a must but happy to work with you on that.

If anyone would like to come and audition to sing or register interest as part of the musical/music aspect of the show please get in touch.

Matthew

This amateur production of “Educating Rita” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French Ltd. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk