Willy Russell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Willy Russell
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Russell in 2003
|
|
| Born | William Russell 23 August 1946 Whiston, Lancashire, England |
| Occupation | Playwright, screenwriter, author, lyricist, composer |
| Notable works |
|
| Spouse |
Annie Seagroatt
(m. 1969) |
| Children | 3 |
William Russell (born August 23, 1946) is a famous English writer. He writes plays, songs, and music. Some of his most well-known works include Educating Rita, Shirley Valentine, Blood Brothers, and Our Day Out.
Contents
Willy Russell's Early Life
Russell was born in Whiston, Lancashire, England. This area is now part of Merseyside. He left school when he was 15 years old.
After school, he worked as a hairdresser. He even owned his own salon. When he was 20, he decided to go back to college. He studied to become a teacher. During these years, Russell also sang and wrote his own songs. He performed them in folk clubs.
Starting His Writing Career
While at college, Russell began writing plays. In 1972, he took three short plays to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. There, another writer, John McGrath, saw his work. McGrath suggested Russell to the Liverpool Everyman theatre.
The Everyman theatre then asked Russell to adapt a play called When The Reds…. This was Russell's first professional play for the theatre.
Willy Russell's Career as a Writer
Russell's first play was Keep Your Eyes Down (1971). He wrote it while training to be a teacher. It was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1971.
Famous Musicals and Plays
In 1974, Russell wrote John, Paul, George, Ringo ... and Bert. This was a musical about the Beatles. The Liverpool Everyman theatre asked him to write it. The musical was very popular and ran for eight weeks.
It then moved to the West End in London. It played for over a year there. It won awards for best musical in 1974.
Russell also wrote other plays like One for the Road (1976) and Stags and Hens (1978). He also wrote for television. His TV films include Death of A Young Young Man (1975) and Our Day Out (1977). He also wrote a five-part TV series called One Summer (1983).
Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine
The Royal Shakespeare Company asked Russell to write Educating Rita. It first showed in London in 1980. It then moved to the Piccadilly Theatre in London. Julie Walters and Mark Kingston starred in the play.
Educating Rita was very successful. It has been performed all over the world. Many actors and Russell himself have won awards for it.
In 1986, Russell wrote Shirley Valentine. This play was also very popular in the West End. It won Olivier Awards for Russell (Comedy of the Year) and for its star, Pauline Collins.
Shirley Valentine also went to Broadway in New York in 1989. Pauline Collins won a Tony Award for Best Actress there.
Both Educating Rita (1983) and Shirley Valentine (1989) were made into movies. Michael Caine, Julie Walters, and Pauline Collins were all nominated for Oscars for their roles. Russell was also nominated for an Oscar for his Educating Rita screenplay.
Blood Brothers Musical
Russell's musical Blood Brothers is another worldwide success. It is about two twins who are separated at birth. They grow up in very different families.
It won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 1983. A new production in 1988 ran for over 10,000 shows. It played in the West End for 24 years, ending in November 2012. There were also tours in the UK and other countries. It played on Broadway for two years starting in 1993. The Broadway show was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Musical.
Other Projects
In 1985, Russell helped write the song "The Show." This was the theme song for the TV series Connie. The song was sung by Rebecca Storm. It reached number 22 on the UK Singles Chart.
Russell also worked with Bob Eaton to turn his play Our Day Out into a musical. Our Day Out – The Musical keeps the original story and characters. But it updates the setting to modern times. It has new songs and lyrics. The musical was performed in 2010.
In 2000, Willy Russell published his first novel, The Wrong Boy. In 2004, he released his own music album called Hoovering the Moon.
Willy Russell Archive
In 2013, Liverpool John Moores University created the Willy Russell Archive. This archive holds many of his works. It includes manuscripts, programs, and letters. It also has audio and film materials. This collection shows all of Russell's work over his career.
Willy Russell's Personal Life
Willy Russell married Annie Seagroatt in 1969. They have three children: a son named Rob, and two daughters named Rachel and Ruth.
Willy Russell's Works
- Keep Your Eyes Down (play 1972)
- Sam O'Shanker (play 1972, musical 1973)
- John, Paul, George, Ringo ... and Bert (musical 1974)
- Death of a Young Young Man (TV Episode 1975)
- Breezeblock Park (play 1975)
- Our Day Out (play 1977, later adapted for stage musical 2010)
- Blind Scouse
- One for the Road (play 1976)
- I Read the News Today (BBC Schools Radio Play, 1976)
- Stags and Hens (1978 play, filmed in 1990 as Dancin' Thru the Dark)
- Educating Rita (play 1980, film 1983)
- The Boy with the Transistor Radio (1980)
- One Summer (TV series 1983)
- Blood Brothers (musical 1983)
- Connie (TV series, co-wrote theme tune "The Show" 1985)
- Shirley Valentine (play 1986, film 1989)
- Terraces (BBC TV film 1993)
- The Wrong Boy (first novel, 2000)
- Hoovering the Moon (music album, 2003)
- Our Day Out – The Musical (2009/10)
Awards and Nominations for Willy Russell
Willy Russell has won many awards for his writing.
Awards Won
- 1980: Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy – Educating Rita
- 1983: Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical – Blood Brothers
- 1988: Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy – Shirley Valentine
- 1990: Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Screenplay – Shirley Valentine
Award Nominations
- 1984: Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay – Educating Rita
- 1984: Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Motion Picture Screenplay – Educating Rita
- 1984: BAFTA nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay – Educating Rita
- 1989: Tony Award for Best Play – Shirley Valentine
- 1990: BAFTA nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay – Shirley Valentine
- 1993: Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical – Blood Brothers
