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
Amanda Muggleton Amanda Muggleton Amanda Lillian Muggleton (born 1951) is an English Australian theatre, television and film actress. She is best known for her role as Chrissie Latham in the television soap opera "Prisoner" (1979–1983). Her stage work in Australia includes the title roles in "Shirley Valentine" and "Educating Rita", and as Maria Callas in "Master Class", for which she won the 2002 Helpmann Award for Best Actress in a Play. She won a second Helpmann Award in 2005, for her role as Mercedes Cortez in the musical "Eureka!". Muggleton was born in Stepney, London, England in 1951 and emigrated to Australia