EDUCATING RITA
By Willy Russell
Directed by Pamela Haig Bartley
Rita is a feisty, brash, straight-talking hairdresser who is determined to change her life by getting a university education. Her tutor is Frank, a failed poet and disillusioned professor – a self-described “appalling teacher of appalling students”. Their relationship as teacher and student explores poetry and the classic texts of English literature through their vastly different life experiences – giving each of them an education of a lifetime in the process.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
All roles are available. Character descriptions provided, including age and gender, describe character traits only. Actors are welcome to submit for the role with which they feel alignment.
Roles
| Role | Type | Gender | Number |
| RITA (she/her), 29 | Lead | Female Identified | |
|
A street-smart, Liverpudlian hairdresser, dissatisfied with her husband, and her mundane life. She feels trapped, and passionately believes education will change her life. Full of vim and and vigor, and determined to know “everything.” Accent required: Scouse/Liverpool.
Demonstration of proficiency with the dialects is a must. Accent coaching will be provided for actors cast. |
|||
| FRANK (he/him), 50s | Lead | Male Identified | |
|
A British professor of literature, who is a bitter, jaded, divorced alcoholic. A frustrated poet, who no longer believes in the education system, and is suffering from mid-life angst. Accent required: British RP
Demonstration of proficiency with the dialects is a must. Accent coaching will be provided for actors cast. |
|||
- or -
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Please submit a headshot and resume (PDF format only) to [email protected] with the subject line: EDUCATING RITA. Please indicate the role you would like to be considered for.
If there is a potential barrier that might prevent you from being able to audition, we encourage you to let us know so we can work with you to dissolve it. Due to the volume of submissions, only those selected for an audition will be contacted. Reading copies of the script are available at the theatre.
Submission Deadline
March 26, 2025
AUDITION DATES: April 6 & 7, 2025
CONTRACT DATES: September 2 – October 4, 2025
Artists will be engaged under the CTA, with anticipated rates set at “C” House category.
Rehearsals start: September 2, 2025
Opening: September 26, 2025
Closing: October 4, 2025
ABOUT PERSEPHONE THEATRE
Persephone Theatre is located on the beautiful lands of Indigenous peoples who have lived here since time immemorial, including the Nêhiyawak, Nêhithawak, Anishinabek, Nakawe, Nakota, Nehinawak, Lakota, Dakota and Dene peoples. This place is also the homeland of the Métis. At Persephone, we also like to acknowledge the contributions of the Whitecap Dakota and Round Prairie Métis peoples in establishing our city of Saskatoon. Persephone Theatre is located on Treaty 6 territory and is committed to living in good relations with our Indigenous neighbours, in the spirit with which the Treaties were intended.
Persephone Theatre is committed to a reflecting the rich diversity of our community in the stories we tell and the ways in which we undertake creating our work. We prioritize a workplace culture that centres equity, inclusion, and authentic representation. We strongly encourage submissions from artists who self-identify as members of historically excluded communities, which includes (but is not limited to) those who identify as IBPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, d/Deaf, or who have a disability or chronic illness. We also strongly encourage artists to submit for the roles they feel align with their gender identity and/or gender expression.
COVID-19 WORKSAFE POLICY
Our current Covid-19 protocols require artists to provide proof of vaccination to Persephone prior to commencing work. Other Covid-19 protocols, such as masking, may also be in place at the time of production. These protocols will be communicated clearly to artists at the time of offer and be included in a rider to their contract
Persephone Theatre encourages submissions from diverse artists of all backgrounds, regardless of race, colour, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
