A new stage version of Rita, Sue & Bob Too! returns starring Tina Malone

Regal Entertainments Ltd Present

RITA, SUE & BOB TOO!

Written by Andrea Dunbar | Directed by Sylvie Gatrill

STARRING TINA MALONE (Shameless)

A brand new stage version of the 80’s cult movie comes to St Helens.

______________________________________________________________

Regal Entertainments and St Helens Theatre Royal proudly present a brand new stage version of the hilarious 1987 cult movie ‘Rita, Sue and Bob Too!’ from Wednesday 12 – Sunday 16 October.

Directed by Sylvie Gatrill (The Salon and The Ciggie Run) the new stage version is headlined by Liverpool Shameless star Tina Malone as Bob’s wife Michelle and also stars her real-life daughter Dannielle Malone (Hollyoaks) as Rita and her husband Paul Malone playing the role of Sam. The great cast also includes Abby Mavers as Sue, Franny Bennett as Bob, Angela Simms as Mum and the hilarious comedian Mickey Finn as Dad.

Rita and Sue are two working class girls from a rundown council estate, about to finish their final year at school, they are generally disillusioned with life and their circumstances. In their spare time, they earn money babysitting for Bob and Michelle, a relatively affluent couple living in a large detached house in a more desirable part of town. Without Michelle's knowledge, Bob embarks on an affair with both Rita and Sue, who take it in turns to have sex with him in his car in the countryside. Michelle eventually finds out and leaves Bob but not before confronting Rita and Sue outside their homes and in front of their families and neighbours. When Bob later develops a preference for Rita, the two girls fall out. Rita then decides to move in with Bob, whilst Sue begins seeing somebody else. Rita and Sue then reconcile and Sue moves in with Rita and Bob and the three embark on a ménage à trois.

Rita, Sue and Bob Too! was written by Andrea Dunbar who wrote her first play The Arbor in 1977 at the age of 15, which was premiered in 1980 at London's Royal Court Theatre, directed by Max Stafford-Clark. It won the Young Writers' Festival, and was later extended and performed in New York. Dunbar was quickly commissioned to write a follow-up work, creating Rita, Sue and Bob Too, first performed in 1982. Rita, Sue and Bob Too was adapted for the cinema and was filmed in 1986 by Alan Clarke. The film created considerable controversy on the Buttershaw estate, where Dunbar lived, because of its negative portrayal of the area. A single mother with three children by different men, she became an increasingly heavy drinker. In 1990 she died of a brain haemorrhage at the age of 29.

The original Film Four low budget movie starred George Costigan, Lesley Sharpe, Siobhan Finneran and Michelle Holmes and became an instant success, the band ‘Black Lace’ also appeared in the film performing their song ‘Having a Gangbang’ at a nightclub which became the soundtrack to the movie.

With a side-splittingly funny script, a great cast and bursting with all the best 80’s music, this is one hilarious night out you can’t afford to miss!

6 PERFORMANCES ONLY!

PERFORMANCE DETAILS:

Rita, Sue and Bob Too!

St Helens Theatre Royal

Wed 12 – Sun 16 October 2011 Wed – Sat Eves 7.30pm, Sun Eve 6pm, Sat Mat 2pm

Tickets: £14 | £12 (Concessions) Sat Mat all seats £7

How to book – Book in person at the Theatre Royal Box Office Corporation Street, St. Helens, Merseyside WA10 1LQ (Mon–Sat 10am–5pm) Alternatively call 01744 756 000 or click www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com