Educating Rita as Rita and Edward Herrmann as Frank. The production was directed by Bruce Paltrow and was critically acclaim with critics touting McKenzie's performance as "wonderfully beguiling and irrepressible...one of the best performances of the year". From 26 March-8 May 2010, as part of the Willy Russell season at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Laura Dos Santos reprised her radio performance on stage as Rita alongside Larry Lamb as Frank. This was the production's first London West End revival. This production transferred to the Trafalgar Studios in London's West End from 8 July-30 October 2010, produced by Sonia Friedman. Laura Dos Santos
Willy Roper is too late. Only a few days after his release in May 1996, Arthur suffers a brain haemorrhage on the allotments, and dies the next day in hospital. Arthur's funeral is held and Mark is incensed to see Willy in attendance. He confronts Willy and ends up assaulting him. In November 1996 Willy is sentenced to three years in prison. Introduced in June 1995, Willy plays a key part in the long-running storyline that eventually leads to the exit of one of "EastEnders"' original characters, Arthur Fowler. The actor Michael Tudor Barnes was cast in the role for a six-month