Educating Rita
2nd Edition
Published on 18. May 2023
128 pages
978-1-350-20094-4 (ISBN)
Description
'One way of describing Educating Rita would be to say that it was about the meaning of education ... Another would be to say that it was about the meaning of life. A third, that it is a cross between Pygmailion and Lucky Jim. A fourth, that it is simply a marvellous play, painfully funny and passionately serious; a hilarious social documentary; a fairy-tale with a quizzical, half-happy ending.' Sunday Times
This new student edition includes an introduction covering the play's context; chronology; dramatic devices; critical reception; production history; and key themes such as class and identity, popular culture and education.
Educating Rita portrays a working-class Liverpool woman's hunger for education. It premiered at the RSC Warehouse, London, in 1980 and won the SWET award for Best Comedy of the Year. It was subsequently made into a highly successful film with Michael Caine and Julie Walters and won the 1983 BAFTA award for Best Film.
Commentary and notes by Katie Beswick, University of the Arts London.
This new student edition includes an introduction covering the play's context; chronology; dramatic devices; critical reception; production history; and key themes such as class and identity, popular culture and education.
Educating Rita portrays a working-class Liverpool woman's hunger for education. It premiered at the RSC Warehouse, London, in 1980 and won the SWET award for Best Comedy of the Year. It was subsequently made into a highly successful film with Michael Caine and Julie Walters and won the 1983 BAFTA award for Best Film.
Commentary and notes by Katie Beswick, University of the Arts London.
More details
Series
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
ISBN-13
978-1-350-20094-4 (9781350200944)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Willy Russell | Katie Beswick
Educating Rita
Book
06/2023
2nd Edition
Methuen Drama
€14.00
Available immediately
Persons
One of the most-produced writers of his time, Willy Russell (b. Whiston, Liverpool, 23 Aug. 1947) is a playwright and songwriter. He has written a large number of highly successful plays and musicals for stage and TV including John, Paul, George, Ringo ... and Bert (1974), Breezeblock Park (1975), One for the Road (1976),Our Day Out (television 1977; stage musical version 1983), Stags and Hens (1978; filmed as Dancin' thru the Dark, 1990), Educating Rita (1979), Blood Brothers(1981; musical version 1983), and Shirley Valentine (1986). His novel, The Wrong Boy, was published to great acclaim in 2000.
Katie Beswick is a writer and academic working at Goldsmiths, University of London. She is interested in arts and culture and their intersections with issues of class.
Katie Beswick is a writer and academic working at Goldsmiths, University of London. She is interested in arts and culture and their intersections with issues of class.
Content
Chronology
Context:
Liverpool in 1980s
Willy Russell and the Everyman
Themes:
Being trapped and breaking free
Class and identity
Popular culture v high art
Education and knowledge
Dramatic Devices:
Language and voice
Structure
Setting
Production History:
Casting Rita
Film
Critical Reception
Academic Debate
Comparative Literature
Further Study
EDUCATING RITA
Notes
References
Context:
Liverpool in 1980s
Willy Russell and the Everyman
Themes:
Being trapped and breaking free
Class and identity
Popular culture v high art
Education and knowledge
Dramatic Devices:
Language and voice
Structure
Setting
Production History:
Casting Rita
Film
Critical Reception
Academic Debate
Comparative Literature
Further Study
EDUCATING RITA
Notes
References
