EDUCATING Rita, the tale of the tough cookie from Liverpool who wants to better her life, will be showing soon as part of C'est Tous Shakespeare Theatre Company's autumn season.

The play, written by Willy Russell, is known by many from the comedy film of the same name, which starred Michael Caine and Julie Walters.

Christine Appleby will be taking on the lead role as Rita opposite David Houston as Frank (both pictured).

The pair are rehearsing hard and putting in double the preparation as they gear up to tread the boards alone for this production.

Christine said: "Rita is a woman who has been brought up as a working class girl. She wants to improve herself so goes on an Open University course where she meets Frank. Willy Russell is so good that all the clues for this character are in the script. He used to work as a ladies' hairdresser and has a great understanding of women."

And with C'est Tous recently receiving high praise from actors' newspaper The Stage for performances of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, they'll make the play one to remember!

Educating Rita opens with a matinee at the Marsden Theatre, Worden Park, Leyland, on Thursday, October 17. On the same day there will be and evening performance at The Mill Hotel, Southport Road, Croston, and on Saturday, October 19, there will be an evening performance at the Marsden Theatre.

For tickets, call 01772 431300 or 01772 600088 for bookings at The Mill Hotel.