FULL CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR EDUCATING RITA AT THE BARN THEATRE, CIRENCESTER
- ely01123
- Apr 25
- 3 min read
BARN THEATRE, CIRENCESTER FRIDAY 16 MAY – SATURDAY 28 JUNE
CEO and Artistic Director Iwan Lewis, Executive Director and Producer Liam McMullan and the whole Barn Theatre team are delighted to announce the full cast and creative team for the Built by Barn production of Willy Russell’s Educating Rita directed by Stephen Unwin. Educating Rita will open on Friday 16 May and run until Saturday 28 June, with a national press performance on Monday 19 May.
Starring JUSTIN EDWARDS AS ‘FRANK’ and ELLIE CLAYTON AS ‘RITA’
Rita is a bright eyed, 26-year-old, working class hairdresser who dreams of breaking free from her mundane and routine life. She signs up to attend an Open University course in Literature and meets Frank, a middle aged disillusioned academic, disappointed writer and somewhat professional drinker.
Even Frank describes himself as “an appalling teacher”, but her sheer zest for life re invigorates him and a journey of rediscovery for both of them begins. Educating Rita is a life affirming, moving and hugely funny play that brings together an unlikely pairing of two worlds in perfect collision.
Willy Russell’s play is a heartwarming timeless British classic that has won the love of audiences for decades.
Justin Edwards who has recently appeared in HBO’s The Franchise will play ‘Frank’, his theatre credits include ‘Pendlebury’ in The Lavender Hill Mob at Cheltenham Everyman Theatre, ‘Antipholus Of Ephesus’ in Comedy Of Errors with the Royal Shakespeare Company and ‘Tom Kettle’ in The Ferryman at the Gielgud Theatre before transferring to Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Broadway.
Ellie Clayton who plays Claire in CBBC’s So Awkward and So Awkward Academy, will play ‘Rita’. Her theatre credits including ‘Julie’ in The Peaceful Hour at Royal Court Liverpool, ‘Wendy’ in The New Adventures of Peter Pan at Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage with Jordan Productions and ‘Chris Prezzie’ in Scroogilicious at Theatre Peckham.
Written by Willy Russell, this Built by Barn production will be directed by Stephen Unwin, with set and costume design from Cory Shipp, lighting and sound design by Ben Ormerod and John Leonard respectively, Ginny Schiller will provide casting direction, and the sound programmer will be Michael Beer. Educating Rita is a Built by Barn production.
Director Stephen Unwin said, “I am delighted to be directing Willy Russell’s brilliant social comedy, Educating Rita, at the intimate Barn Theatre in Cirencester. I have great admiration for what the Barn has achieved and am honoured to be included in its new season."
Chief Executive and Artistic Director Iwan Lewis and Executive Director and Producer Liam McMullan said, “We are absolutely delighted to bring Willy Russell’s legendary Educating Rita to the Barn stage as the third instalment of our 2025 season. A cast of Justin Edwards and Ellie Clayton, under the direction of Stephen Unwin alongside an incredible creative team, we cannot wait to see this iconic play brought to life on stage at the Barn. It’s going to be special!”
Since launching in 2018, the Barn Theatre has gained national recognition having produced over 20 Built by Barn shows and being awarded The Stage Awards’ Best Fringe Theatre of the Year Award 2019. In 2023, the theatre celebrated its fifth anniversary with a season that included world premieres of Simon Reade's adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's Waiting For Anya, Jonathan Lynn’s final instalment of his classic series I’m Sorry Prime Minister, I Can’t Quite Remember, as well as a reimagined revival production of the musical Once and the world premiere of a musical adaptation of Treasure Island. 2024 saw Sherlock Holmes and the Whitechapel Fiend, Constellations, Midsummer, Stones in His Pockets, Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, Room 13 and The Three Musketeers: Trois. 2025 started with A Role to Die For followed by Michael Morpurgo’s In the Mouth of the Wolf. Following Educating Rita will be Friends! The Musical Parody, Haywire and The Last Five Years, before finishing the year with A Christmas Carol.
