Publication details of Educating Rita :

Published in 1981

Other literary works include:

Death of a Young Man (1974)
One for the Road (1978)
Shirley Valentine (1986)

Born:

In 1947, in Whiston, UK

Early years:

Not known.

Schooling:

His school career in the 'D Stream' was undistinguished. At fifteen he left with one 'O' level in English Language. It was whilst St. Catherine's College of Education that he decided to become a dramatist.

Career:

Leaving school at fifteen, he worked as a hairdresser until the age of twenty, returning to school to complete his education. There he began to write his first play, a trilogy called Blind Scouse, which was taken to the Edinburgh Festival. He won the Evening Standard and London Theatre Critics' awards for best musical with John, Paul, George, Ringo... and Bert. Its success enabled him to give up teaching and concentrate on writing full-time. In 1983, the Open University awarded him an honorary MA. In 1990, Liverpool University honoured him by making him a Doctor of Letters. Liverpool's John Moore University awarded him an honorary fellowship in 1995.

Final years:

Died: