Educating Rita at Curve Leicester Review
Dominic Mafham and Alexandera Mardell in Educating Rita. Photo: Jonathan Pryke.
Caution: This production contains strong language, references to alcohol use, suicidal thoughts, sexual content, emotional abuse and smoking of herbal cigarettes on stage.
Originally commissioned for the RSC, this Olivier Award-winning nostalgic play is directed by Curve’s Associate Director Cara Nolan in this Made at Curve version of one of writer Willy Russell’s most famous plays, Educating Rita.
Nolan has brought together a first class cast in both Alexandra Mardell and Dominic Mafham who play characters Rita and Frank respectively. Separately, both are exceptional actors who bring humbleness, humour and honesty to their roles. Together, they are a force to be reckoned with.
Their conversational dialogue bounces off each other naturally and they have a wonderful acting relationship. If you are looking to have a dead good time then you are in for a belter of a night!
Hiding his vices behind books on his bookshelves is Rita’s new tutor, Frank. Both wise and worldly, Frank is a tired teacher who has decided to take on an Open University student in the evenings, in order to earn some extra cash and avoid spending time with his girlfriend Julia.
From the opposing side of Liverpool with an opposing type of life, the bright and vibrant Rita knocks on Frank’s study door and introduces herself. Initially, the pair do not see eye-to-eye or even understand each other but over time the hilarious hairdresser and her tutor begin to realise that if you want to change, you have to change from the inside.
Mardell and Mafham are both incredible at portraying their characters’ lives but also at developing the character arc that each of their characters goes through as the play moves on. Teaching Rita (or should I say Susan) about the literary works of authors including W.B. Yeats and E.M. Forster challenges Frank, as Rita isn’t the typical student that he is used to.
“What can I possibly teach you?” he wonders aloud as Rita wants to know everything. Not only does she want to know everything, but she also wants to find and discover herself first. Will Rita be able to succeed in finding herself? Will Frank be able to teach Rita all about characters, plots and themes? Will either or both of them be able to change their lives in some way?
Designing and creating Frank’s study to become a character in itself is set designer Michael Taylor who has transformed Curve’s Studio set into an incredibly detailed and realistic study which represents Frank’s mindset and personality. With his scruffy sofa, a lot of papers and a cluttered noticeboard, the study sets the scene and also gives audience members a flavour of the 1980s period in which the play is set.
With Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister and significant historical events happening such as The Miners’ Strike and the Falklands War, the early 1980s was an interesting period of time for working class people in particular.
Throughout this play and woven through Willy Russell’s writing, the struggles of working class people are at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Frank and Rita have to navigate their own struggles and vices as they connect with each other and change their lives.
Educating Rita continues its run at Leicester’s Curve Studio Theatre until Saturday 17th October 2026.
★★★★
Written by Hollie for Theatre and Tonic, September 2026.