Casting announced for Curve's production of Willy Russell's EDUCATING RITA
Leicester’s Curve theatre has announced casting for its upcoming Made at Curve production of Willy Russell’s drama EDUCATING RITA, running in Curve’s Studio Theatre from 26 September - 17 October.
Susan ‘Rita’ White, the bright-eyed twenty something with dreams of making more of her life will be played by Alexandra Mardell. Best known for her role as Emma Brooker in ITV’s CORONATION STREET, for which she won the British Soap Award for Best Newcomer in 2019, Mardell is also known for playing Lucinda in BBC’s cult comedy SMOGGIE QUEENS, as well as legal drama WAR (HBO/Sky) and sitcom THE FAMILY PILE (ITV). In 2022, she was crowned winner of STRICTLY COME DANCING’s Christmas special.
Mardell said: “I am so honoured to have the opportunity to play Rita this autumn. She is iconic, and still so relevant today. A dream role for a Northern actress to play. I’ve already learned so much from Rita and I can’t wait to start rehearsals and begin to explore her character further.”
Dominic Mafham will play opposite Mardell as her self-proclaimed ‘appalling teacher’, Frank. Mafham’s longstanding stage and screen career includes roles in VIGIL (BBC), KILLING EVE (BBC), THE FRAGILE HEART (Channel 4), OUR MUTUAL FRIEND (BBC), JOURNEY’S END (West End/National tour), THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (Shakespeare’s Globe/US and China tour), and THAT FACE (Orange Tree Theatre).
Mafham said: “I’m thrilled to be taking on the role of Frank. Educating Rita is a very funny but also deeply moving play, and Frank is such a rich and complex character. I’m also really looking forward to working at Curve for the first time and playing in this amazing space with some wonderful people!”
The roles of Rita and Frank will be covered by Helena Rimmer and Earl Carpenter respectively.
EDUCATING RITA will be directed by Curve’s Associate Director Cara Nolan, with set and costume design by Michael Taylor, lighting by Katy Morison, sound by Jack Baxter, and casting by Richard Johnston for Pippa Ailon and Natalie Gallacher Casting.
It’s never too late to start again…
Bright-eyed twenty-something Susan 'Rita' White dreams of making more of her life. Armed with an interest in literature and unwavering determination she enrols in the Open University, forming an unlikely friendship with disillusioned and dishevelled Frank – her self-proclaimed “appalling teacher”. Through their weekly tutorials, they challenge each other into a life-changing journey of self-discovery.