Shirley Valentine & Educating Rita - transfers from Menier Chocolate Factory to Trafalgar Studios 8 July 2010

Willy Russell's Shirley Valentine and Educating Rita, transfers from the Menier Chocolate Factory, to the Trafalgar Studios 1 Theatre, opening in repertoire 26 July 2010, following previews from 8 July - booking to 30 Oct 2010.

Both shows had played in repertoire at the Menier Chocolate Factory 27 Mar to 8 May 2010.

Shirley Valentine is directed by Glen Walford with Meera Syal reprising her role. Meet Shirley: a middle-aged Liverpudlian housewife who talks to the wall whilst preparing her husband's egg and chips. She's in a rut. What has happened to her life? When her best friend wins an all-expenses-paid vacation for two to Greece she packs her bags, heads for the sun and starts to see the world and herself rather differently....

Educating Rita, directed by Jeremy Sams, with Tim Pigott-Smith (replacing Larry Lamb) joining Laura Dos Santos . Much to the dismay of her husband Denny, Rita, a young, brash hairdresser, has recently discovered a passion for English literature and enrols with the Open University. Her fresh, unschooled reaction to the classics challenges the attitudes of the University and her lecturer Frank who begins to question his own understanding of his work and himself.

Both shows have designs by Peter McKintosh, lighting by Paul Anderson and sound by David Ogilvyand are produced in the West End by Chocolate Factory Productions & Sonia Friedman Productions, Tanya Link, Bob Bartner and Bob Boyett.