Educating Rita is an interesting and thoughtful but slow-moving show. Consisting solely of conversations in a single room, on a single topic of education. This show follows Rita, a 27-year-old hair dresser in Liverpool beginning university, and engaging 1:1 with her professor, Dr Frank Bryant, in his office. Rita and Frank debate and discuss education, class, and alcoholism. Educating Ritaâs strong script consistently obtains laughs from the audience, a credit to the comedic timing of the actors and the keen direction of Sharon Maine. This show was engaging and pulled in the audience through the powerful relationship it builds between its protagonists. The morally split and endearing characters create space for the audience to ask themselves the value of education, and its impact on social class.
This production boasts an interesting and authentic set, with piles of books that weaved in and out of the story. The characters moved about the office comfortably aided by simple and appropriate lighting. Rita and Frank sport funky costumes, exhibiting era and class appropriate wardrobes that support the audienceâs immersion into Rita and Frankâs world. All the components of the show worked well together to bring Frankâs office to life.
This is clearly a show that wants its audience to question education and its value, as opposed to or in direct conflict of social capital and value. Rita and Frank toy with the educational imbalance and social inequality between them, creating and building tension in their relationship. Appropriately, or sadly (for me), the show contains some literary references that went over my head, but likely more educated people will understand. Perhaps that was a purposeful design, for the characters to highlight their educational and social superiority. Either way, the literary references enhanced the experience of the show, bringing literature to the forefront of Rita and Frankâs discussions.
At different points of the show Rita struggles with writing papers, alluding to the challenges of womanhood. Rita struggles to balance her work, domestic duties, and school. In her dissolution of society Rita notices neighbours becoming numb and looking for purpose, Frank and Ritaâs conversation turns towards the awe and wonderment of life, traversing trivial struggles and mounting monumental issues we all face in life. Rita notes that there is ânot enough time to find myself,â alluding to the feminist struggle and desire to take on the world. Rita faces the struggle of conforming to society and giving in to peer pressure, or pushing against social expectation to achieve academically.
This play determines how education changes us, or not. It maintains a quiet sense of humour throughout, allowing the impact of heavy themes to wash over the audience amongst light hearted quips between Rita and Frank. The divergence of ideas and values pulls the characters apart, the central relationship splintering over time.
To book tickets to Educating Rita, please visit https://thebasintheatre.au/event/season-4-2025/2025-08-07/.
Photographer: Jason Triggs
