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
Shirley Gee be different, even as the two of them are manipulated by loyalties of family, friendship and country. Shirley Gee Shirley Gee (Born 25 April 1932, London; died 22 November 2016, London) was a British playwright. She married actor Donald Gee on 30 January 1965; They have two sons; Joby (born in 1966) and Daniel (1968) and six grandchildren (in age order); Barney, Elliot, Harvey, Maisy, Ethan and Hal. She lived in Chelsea from 1965 to 2009. She then lived in Putney, London with her husband, until her death. "Never In My Lifetime" won the Samuel Beckett Award, 1985 Susan Smith