Educating Rita, By Willy Russell
Educating Rita By Willy Russell, directed by Karen Sheard
Wednesday 24 September - Saturday 27 September 2025 at 7.30pm
Doors Open at 7pm; Bar Open at 7pm
Two people, one room, and a world between them. To mark the 45th anniversary of Educating Rita’s first performance — held just down the road from Network Theatre — we are proud to present a special edition of Willy Russell’s beloved and hilarious two-hander.
Though separated by class and background, Rita and Frank share something deeper: a hunger for meaning, and a romantic view of lives lived on the other side of the grass. Their clash, full of humor and heart, reminds us that the desire to grow and change is universal. Ideal for fans of sharp, character-driven drama, the show highlights the wit, warmth, and class tension at the heart of Rita and Frank’s relationship.
Set in the 1980s, the story captures a pivotal cultural moment—when access to education began to widen and women like Rita dared to defy expectations and reshape their futures. This unique production blends music and clothes from the era with spoken and written quotes from the literary works discussed in the play, offering fresh insight into the texts that shape their conversations.
Venue: Network Theatre
Network Theatre is a community theatre space in the underground railway arches of London Waterloo station.
Run by the volunteers of the resident Network Theatre Company, they produce their own productions of contemporary and classical theatre and provide a unique location for visiting theatre companies and events.
Network Theatre will be joining The Lambeth Fringe for 2025 with unmissable new writing.
Please note this is an ‘umbrella venue’ -the shows have already been programmed as part of the Lambeth Fringe and this space is therefore not available for artists to apply to.
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