Willy Russell wrote Educating Rita 35 years ago.

Now the former hairdresser turned global playwright, screenwriter, musician and author is happy his legendary two-hander comes home.

This tale of a working class woman focuses on a woman who wants to learn aided by a drink-fuelled tutor who thinks he has seen and heard it all , that is until till he meets Rita.

It has been a box office hit all over the world - translated and performed by theatre companies - amateur and professional - who love its universal theme.

It is the first production of Educating Rita to be staged professionally in Liverpool for 13 years.

And Willy, taking time out from rehearsals, told the Wirral Globe: "I am really delighted to be back at the Liverpool Playhouse - a theatre where I've had such a long and fulfilling association.

"I'm equally delighted to be working with (director) Gemma Bodinetz and the great cast she has assembled - both Leanne Best and Con O'Neill are superb actors and it's a real pleasure to have them perform the play here in Liverpool where both their, and my careers, began."

Like all of Willy's work, it hasn't dated.

Michael Caine and Julie Walters made it a big screen sensation - but its origins lie firmly on the stage.

Now it will open the Playhouse's 2015 season.

Like his other classics, John. Paul, George, Ringo and Bert, Breezeblock Park, Shirley Valentine and Blood Brothers it is a piece of time-less theatre born on Merseyside.

Willy's work always resonates, and he has successfully re-booted one of his other Merseyside creations Our Day Out at the Royal Court.

It's a real fab home-coming for our Rita, because Olivier award-winning actor Con O' Neill is playing jaded Frank the literature guru, and the equally award-winning actress Leanne Best plays Rita.

Both stars dominate TV again this spring. Leanne wll be seen in Fortitude (Sky Atantic) The Outcast (BBC) and Home Fires (ITV) While Con will be seen in Uncle (BBC) and Channel 4's Cucumber and Banana.

Director Gemma Bodinetz says: “Educating Rita is rightly acknowledged to be one of the great plays of the 20th century.

"To be directing it in its home city with a such a remarkable cast ,both of whom began their careers here is an honour and a joy."

The Playhouse know this is another real coup and one that theatre lovers will travel from all over the UK to see a production that was born on Merseyside.

So will Mr Russell there on the opening night to see his two old friends Frank and Rita?

"I am not saying, " said the writer.

The show runs from Friday, February 6, to March 7.
Tickets from the Liverpool Playhouse box office: 0151 709 4776.