Octagon Theatre in Bolton has announced the cast for Max Stafford-Clark’s new production of Rita, Sue and Bob Too, the 1982 play about two teenage friends who embark on an affair with a married man.
A co-production with Octagon Theatre, Out of Joint and The Royal Court Theatre, the production will open in Bolton in September and then tour the UK until February 2018.
Rita will be played by Taj Atwal, who was widely acclaimed for her performance in East is East at Trafalgar Studios in the West End, and who starred as Rita in Educating Rita for Hull Truck. Atwal’s co-star from In The Club on BBC 1, Gemma Dobson, will make her professional stage debut as Sue.
Bob will be played by James Atherton, who played Will Savage in Hollyoaks, as well as recently playing Jamie Bowman in Coronation Street.
Returning to the Octagon is Sally Bankes (Mother) who has also appeared in four productions for the RSC and worked with Taj Atwal in the West End production of East is East.
Max Stafford-Clark directed the première of Rita Sue and Bob Too in 1982 at the Royal Court.