ICONIC Bradford comedy drama Rita, Sue and Bob Too is to be performed professionally for the first time at St George’s Hall.

Out of Joint Productions is taking its acclaimed version of Andrea Dunbar’s semi-autobiographical play to the hall from April 18-20.

The production will be staged at the recently-refurbished venue at the end of a UK tour with a new cast, following the production’s well-received tour in 2017.

Dunbar’s ground-breaking play, directed in 2017 by Out of Joint’s Artistic Director Kate Wasserberg and co-produced with Royal Court Theatre and Octagon Theatre Bolton, was seen by over 30,000 people across the country.

The play was written by the late Andrea Dunbar when she was a teenager and it reflected her own life growing up on a Bradford council estate.

It became a hit film in 1987 with Siobhan Finneran and Michelle Holmes, two young actresses who went on to TV fame in Coronation Street, Clocking Off, Benidorm, Downton Abbey and Goodnight Sweetheart.

Rita, Sue and Bob Too was filmed at locations including Bradford’s Buttershaw estate and the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth.

Gemma Dobson, winner of a Stage Debut Award and a UK Theatre Award for her performance of Sue, returns to the cast. She will be joined by John Askew playing Bob, Alyce Liburd playing Rita, Susan Mitchell playing Mum, Samantha Robinson playing Michelle and David Walker playing Dad.

Alyce Liburd (Rita) from Huddersfield joins the company following open auditions held in Bradford which received over 100 applications. She has performed as Princess Jasmine in Aladdin at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in her home town.

John Askew (Bob) recently performed as Jim in And Did Those Feet Fall at Bolton Octagon, and has performed on stages around the country in Gypsy Queen. He is soon to be seen in Starz The Rook, based on the novel by Stephanie Meyer.

Susan Mitchell (Mum) has appeared in Emmerdale, Coronation Street and DCI Banks. She recently appeared on stage at Sheffield Crucible in My Own Space.

Samantha Robinson (Michelle) played Rita in Educating Rita at Colchester Mercury, and has performed for Northern Broadsides, West Yorkshire Playhouse, The Bush, Bristol Old Vic and elsewhere. Her many TV credits include Cilla.

Call 01274 432000 or visit bradford-theatres.co.uk to book tickets.