Educating Rita reprised her radio and Menier Chocolate Factory performance as Rita, and Frank was played by renowned actor Tim Pigott-Smith. Like the Willy Russell season at the Menier Chocolate Factory, the production ran in repertory alongside "Shirley Valentine" starring Meera Syal. A UK tour played in 2012, starring Claire Sweeney and Matthew Kelly as Rita and Frank respectively. A 35th anniversary production was staged at Liverpool Playhouse from 6 February to 7 March 2015, starring Leanne Best as Rita and Con O'Neill as Frank, directed by Gemma Bodinetz. The same year the Chichester Festival staged a production with Lenny Henry and
The Brothers (Shirley play) The Brothers (Shirley play) The Brothers is a Caroline era stage play, a comedy written by James Shirley. First published in 1653, "The Brothers" has sometimes been hailed as one of Shirley's best plays, though it has also been a focus of significant confusion and scholarly debate. "There is much uncertainty about this play" — though much of this uncertainty seems unnecessary, given the historical facts. "The Brothers" was licensed for performance by Sir Henry Herbert, the Master of the Revels, on 4 November 1626. The title page of the first edition indicates that the play was acted by the