The Barn Theatre, Cirencester – until Saturday 28th June 2025
Reviewed by Josie Aburrow Smith
5*****
This is another great Built by Barn production at the Barn theatre in Cirencester.
Educating Rita, written by Willy Russell, is a classic pygmalion tale. Rita, played by Ellie Clayton, is a working class hairdresser who dreams of a different life. She signs up for an open university writing course. Then there is Frank, played by Justin Edwards, who is an alcoholic academic that is disillusioned by life and his poetry. Ritas enthusiasm leads to a journey of rediscovery for them both.
The whole play is set in one room, Franks office. The staging is cleverly designed with some great play on perspective. The set and costume design are from Cory Shipp.
It is skilfully Directed by Stephen Unwin, with lighting and sound design by Ben Ormerod and John Leonard respectively, Ginny Schiller provided casting direction, and the sound programmer is Michael Beer.
This is a great life affirming and incredibly funny classic British play with terrific and convincing acting. We all need laugh out loud moments and this offered plenty of them.