Willy Russell

Writing

Willy Russell

Born 1947-08-23 · Whiston, Merseyside, England, UK

William Russell is an English dramatist, lyricist and composer. His best known works are Educating Rita, Shirley Valentine, Blood Brothers and Our Day Out.

Acting credits

Behind the camera

Educating Rita poster
6.9

Rita, a witty 26-year-old hairdresser, wants to 'discover' herself, so she joins the Open University where she meets the disillusioned professor of literature, Dr. Frank Bryant. His marriage has failed, his new girlfriend is having an affair with his best friend and he can't get through the day without downing a bottle or two of whisky. What Frank needs is a challenge... and along comes Rita.

Educating Rita

1983

Shirley Valentine poster
6.3

Wondering what has happened to herself, now feeling stagnant and in a rut, Shirley Valentine finds herself regularly talking to the wall while preparing her husband's chips and egg. When her best friend wins a trip-for-two to Greece Shirley begins to see the world, and herself, in a different light.

Shirley Valentine

1989

Dancin' Thru the Dark poster
7.1

Linda is out on her hen night while her fiance Dave is out on his stag night. Linda is having major doubts about getting married. Both groups end up at the same club, only to discover that its band is fronted by her ex-boyfriend - and the love of her life - Peter. Linda has to decide: does she stay and settle down with Dave, like her friends want her to, or does she chuck it all in and run away with Peter?

Dancin' Thru the Dark

1990

Julie Walters and Friends poster
NR

Julie Walters stars in new sketches by four accomplished writers who helped make her famous.

Julie Walters and Friends

1991

Our Day Out poster
7.8

When a teacher takes a group of troubled school children on a school trip to Conwy in Wales, the children understand life outside of Liverpool.

Our Day Out

1977

Break In poster
NR

Written by Willy Russell, Break In tells the story of three boys who break in to their school during the holidays to retrieve a confiscated football.

Break In

1975

Lies poster
NR

Written by Willy Russell, Lies tells the story of a young lad, blessed with enterprise and a dream of living in Cornwall, trying to make something of himself. But, finding himself constantly let down by adults, can he realise that dream?

Lies

1978

A Time to Die poster
4.0

A World War II vet sets out in 1948 to avenge the death of his wife at the hands of Nazis. His targets are four Germans, a Sicilian, and a Hungarian who committed the atrocities. He is aided by a CIA operative, who has another agenda. One of the targeted men is being groomed by the US to become the West German chancellor and is to be protected. Along the way, a third person joins the team.

A Time to Die

1982

Terraces poster
NR

Trouble flares in a Liverpool terraced street when one man refuses to join in and paint his house in the local football teams colours. A tale of victimization and mob rule.

Terraces

1993

The Death of a Young Young Man poster
NR

Billy gets a job on a farm while suspended from school. The fields offer an escape from his tower block, but his friends think he's daft. Billy can see a different kind of life ahead, doing a job he could really enjoy-but events conspire against him.

The Death of a Young Young Man

1975

The Daughters of Albion poster
NR

Three biscuit factory girls mix with students at a party.. Boozing, smoking, jaunty cross-talk and invitations to come to bed follow.

The Daughters of Albion

1979

The Boy with the Transistor Radio poster
NR

Terry is leaving school with few prospects in his native Liverpool. His father finds him a job in a local warehouse but Terry has other ideas. Living in a dream world promulgated by a radio DJ to whom he listens constantly. Terry is convinced there is something better and he makes an angry escape bid.

The Boy with the Transistor Radio

1980

Blood Brothers poster
NR

Fraternal twins, Mickey and Eddie, were separated at birth, with one raised in a wealthy family, the other in a poor family. The different environments take the twins to opposite ends of the social spectrum.

Blood Brothers

2014