Much-loved comedy Shirley Valentine is coming to Lancaster in March

Mina Anwar is set to star in the one-character play

2 hours ago

Emilia Roe | News

The Octagon Theatre Bolton’s 2020 production of ‘Shirley Valentine’ is coming to The Duke’s in Lancaster from 12th March to 22nd March 2025.

Tickets are priced at around £18 each.

Mina Anwar will be replaying her role in Willy Russell’s beloved comedy, directed by the Octagon’s Artistic Director, Lotte Wakeham.

The play will be brought back to Lancashire to give it a more local feel for the audience after it’s success in sellout performances previously.

Shirley Valentine first made its way to movie screens in the 1989 Oscar-nominated film, starring Pauline Collins and Tom Conti. Willy Russell gave permission for this version of the play to be set in Accrington, Lancashire, instead of Liverpool. It is a one-character play about a house wife that leaves her troubles behind and goes on a holiday to Greece. The romantic comedy is a heart-warming play about self-discovery.

Mina Anwar first made her TV breakthrough as PC Maggie Habib in BBC One’s, ‘The Thin Blue Line’. Mina Anwar also originated the part of Ray in the smash-hit ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’, at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, along with its West End transfer.

Anwar also made appearances in Coronation Street, Shameless, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Doctor Who, Life of Pi, and The Book Thief.

The director of Shirley Valentine, Lotte Wakeham said: “We’re absolutely delighted to bring Shirley Valentine back to audiences at the Octagon and across Lancashire in 2025.