Classic comedy makes a welcome return at Reps

Directed by Zane Lucas and starring one of Reps’ finest actresses, Fiona Garrity, this is a one-character play taking the form of a witty monologue by a middle-aged, working-class Liverpool housewife, with a focus on her life before and after a transforming holiday in Greece.

Wondering what has happened to herself, now feeling stagnant and in a rut, Shirley Valentine finds herself regularly talking to the wall while preparing her husband’s chips and egg.
When her best friend wins a trip-for-two to Greece, she packs her bags, leaves a note on the kitchen table and heads for a fortnight of rest and relaxation. What she finds is romance and a new awareness of who she is and what her existence can be with just a little effort on her part. The play premiered in Britain in 1986 and was made into an award-winning film in 1989, starring its West End leading actress Pauline Collins.

It was first staged at Reps in 1993, with Dawn Parkinson in the leading role.
Fiona Garrity is one of Zimbabwe’s most accomplished actresses, has featured in a wide range of productions at Reps since the early 1980s and among her great successes have been musicals like “The King” and “I and Nunsense”, comedies such as “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and “Broadway Bound” and dramas such as “Shadowlands” and “Doubt”.

She has won Reps Afids Awards (and Reps BAT Awards before that) for best supporting actress four times and best actress five times, most recently for last year’s production of “Hay Fever”, which was also directed by Zane Lucas. Earlier this year she appeared in “Humble Boy” in Theatre Upstairs, a highly acclaimed production that earned her further commendations. Zane Lucas has become one of Zimbabwe’s most respected directors and was the winner of Reps’ best director award in 2010 for “Hay Fever”.

He has been an actor and director for many years and was a leading member of the Over The Edge theatrical group and has been the driving force behind the Theory X theatrical initiative.
He directed a critically acclaimed production of the American musical “Rent” at Reps.
Shirley Valentine premieres today during which pensioners can watch for free.

The run is until August 13, with performances each night except Sunday and Monday and an additional matinee performance at 2.30pm on Saturday August 13. Booking is now open at The Spotlight.