ita is a feisty Liverpudlian hairdresser intent on self-improvement. Frank is a jaded university professor who has hit the bottle.

Both are disillusioned with life, and both are about to embark on a journey of discovery Willy Russell’s Educating Rita comes to Bradford next week in an Olivier Award-winning production starring Claire Sweeney and Matthew Kelly. It’s only Yorkshire appearance is at the Alhambra, as part of a limited tour.

For Liverpool actress Claire, the role of Rita has been a long time coming. “It’s a role I always wanted. I grew up loving Willy Russell’s work and I never thought I’d be in one of his plays,” she says. “Some of the dialogue has been changed, to update the play, and we’ve been working with Willy on that process. It’s been fascinating. Scouse language has changed quite a lot, so we’ve included new phrases that Rita would say, and the curriculum has been updated too.”

The play, which premiered in 1980 and hasn’t been out of production since, follows Rita as she gets to grips with the trials of education. As she begins to challenge the attitudes of the university, her tutor, Frank, begins to question his own understanding of his work and learns to believe in himself again.

“It’s a bit Pygmallion really,” says Claire. “The scales are tipped throughout the play. Frank appears to have the upper hand over Rita, in terms of knowledge and education, but he crumbles and is never able to achieve his full potential.

“Rita has a passion for literature and is determined to grow, but once she’s educated, where does she go? She can’t go back to her old life, but she doesn’t really fit in with the bohemian university set. The play looks at class, and how it’s not always so easy to move out of what we’re born in. Rita feels alienated by both her own class, and the educated classes.”

Claire stars opposite Matthew Kelly as Frank. “We’ve worked together before, in Legally Blonde. He’s a lovely man and a great actor, so generous,” says Claire. “I’ve only ever done one play before and that was also a two-hander – with Matthew’s son!”

The film version of Educating Rita won Baftas for Julie Walters and Michael Caine, and an Oscar nomination for Walters. Was it daunting to take on such a role so closely associated with another actress?

“It has been a challenge, because when you think of Educating Rita you think of Julie Walters,” says Claire. “But it was a role I wanted so badly, and the play is quite different to the film. It’s a two-hander, so it’s pretty intense, but not as full-on as when I did Tell Me On A Sunday, which was a one-woman show.”

Claire shot to fame playing feisty Lindsey Corkhill in Brookside and went on to star in TV dramas such as Clocking Off, Merseybeat and most recently BBC1’s Candy Cabs. As a TV presenter, she has fronted shows like 60 Minute Makeover and Claire Sweeney: My Big Fat Diet, and has been a regular panelist on Loose Women.

Her musical theatre includes leading roles in the West End, as Roxie Hart in Chicago and Miss Adelaide opposite Patrick Swayze in Guys And Dolls.

She recently contributed to the album Give Me A Smile; a compilation of songs with composer and conductor Carl Davis.

Educating Rita runs at the Alhambra from Monday to Saturday. For tickets, ring (01274) 432000.