‘EDUCATING RITA’, 1983 – LOCATION AND PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPH ALBUMS AND A PHOTOGRAPH SIGNED BY JULIE WALTERS (3)

Two photograph albums compiled by Hylda Gilbert, both labelled on the cover in Hylda’s hand, the first LOCATION RITA / IRELAND DUBLIN 1982…, the second Ireland Educating Rita 1982-1983: the first album of 37 pp containing 172 colour snap shots, many of the locations in Ireland and the Gilbert family and friends, approximately 72 of key characters including: Julie Walters, several shots of her in hair and make-up being transformed from a brunette to a blonde for the role of Rita, Michael and Shakira Caine, John and Hylda Gilbert, some shots of family holidays seemingly unrelated to the film shoot; the second album containing 30 colour snap shots, subjects include Julie Walters, John and Hylda Gilbert, Michael and Shakira Caine, Michael Williams, and a colour photograph of Hylda on location sitting in a director’s chair, signed and inscribed in black felt pen Hilda [sic] – specially for you, lots of love Julie xxx – 17 x 25 cm.

Willy Russell’s play Educating Rita was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and opened at The Warehouse in London in June 1980, moving to The Piccadilly Theatre in September of that year, before opening at the Liverpool Playhouse in February 1981 – Russell directed this production himself, the first time he had directed a play.  The RSC production ran in the West End for two and half years, since when it has never been out of production somewhere in the world.  Russell said of his work “I wanted to make a play which engaged and was relevant to those who considered themselves uneducated, those whose daily language is not the language of the university or the theatre. I wanted to write a play which would attract, and be as valid for, the Ritas in the audience as the Franks." 

On the strength of the rave reviews, Hylda Gilbert went to see the play whilst it was at the Warehouse, and on her urging, Lewis went to see it shortly afterwards when it opened at the Piccadilly Theatre.  Julie Walters starred as Rita in this original production opposite Mark Kingston as Frank.  In his autobiography, Gilbert recalls …..but up on that stage it was Julie’s show.  I thought it was wonderful and knew I had to get in touch with the author right away.

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Literature: GILBERT, Lewis All My Flashbacks The Autobiography of Lewis Gilbert, Sixty Years A Film Director, Reynolds & Hearn, London, 2010

Bellmans is grateful to Wallace and Hodgson for their assistance with cataloguing the Lewis Gilbert Film Script and Production Archive.