March 2005

Dr Frank Bryant, an alcoholic, cynical professor of literature, has become bored with his teaching and students. Along comes a new student, Rita, a frustrated young, working-class hairdresser, who decides to seek an education with the Open University. She has a hunger to learn and discover more than the usual things in life such as getting married, having babies and so on. The well-meaning but generally drunk professor starts to enjoy his tutorship of this witty and spirited lady who doesn’t have the usual knowledge and studies that other students have. She does, however, have original, naïve and fresh ideas and Frank is revitalised through this relationship. Willy Russell’s hilarious, and often moving play, tells how two people find a new lease of life through each other.