Shirley Valentine
Shirley Valentine is a witty, moving one-woman play that follows Shirley, a middle-aged Liverpool housewife, as she reflects on her life while preparing dinner in her kitchen. Trapped in a routine and feeling invisible within her marriage, she confides in the wall—her only consistent listener—sharing humorous and deeply honest observations about family, relationships, and the quiet loss of her own identity over the years.
When her outspoken friend Jane invites her on a spontaneous trip to Greece, Shirley is forced to confront the fears and habits that have kept her stuck. Torn between duty and desire, she begins to rediscover the adventurous, vibrant woman she once was, questioning whether it’s ever too late to change her life.
Blending sharp comedy with heartfelt insight, Shirley Valentine is a powerful and relatable story about self-discovery, courage, and the importance of reclaiming your sense of self—no matter your age.
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Michael Scott
is a writer, composer, theatre director and international producer.
Funded by the Arts Council, he received his theatre training in Europe and has been Theatre Director of the Project Arts Centre, Programme Director of Dublin Theatre Festival, Director of the Tivoli Theatre Dublin, RHA Downstairs and SFX City Theatre. Currently Artistic Director of the City Theatre Dublin,
His productions and music have been seen in Ireland, England, Germany, the USA, Iceland, Wales, Scotland, Italy and France, and on the WWW.
As Author & Director: Plays & adaptations include Dracula, With Christopher Nolan Torchlight And Laser Beams for the Dublin and Edinburgh Theatre Festivals. Dracula (RHA & Tivoli), Brendan Behans' The Hostage (An Giall) with Niall Tobin, Fragments Of Isabella with Gabrielle Reidy for stage and film. Those Three Days (Pro-Cathedral Dublin & Divis-Cathedral-Belfast) with Stephen Vernon, The Agamemnon (Red Kettle), and The Yellow Man (with Pauline Bewick). In 2019 his play The Valley Of The Squinting Windows was a complete sell out receiving an Irish Times Theatre Nomination, moving after Coving to the Gaiety Theatre, and again selling our totally two years in succession.
He was funded by the Arts Council / to create a new choral setting for The Song of Amergin and is also commissioned by Mullingar Centre for the Performing Arts, to create a two new works for the theatre.
His music is available on all digital platforms.
Willy Russell
is one of Britain’s most celebrated playwrights, with a career spanning over four decades. Born in Liverpool in 1947, he left school at 15 and worked as a hairdresser and musician before retraining as a teacher—an experience that helped shape his distinctive, relatable writing style. His breakthrough came with John, Paul, George, Ringo…and Bert, which transferred to the West End and won major awards.
He is best known for creating strong, memorable characters, particularly in Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine, both of which won Olivier Awards and were adapted into successful films, earning Oscar nominations for their lead actresses and for Russell’s screenplay. His musical Blood Brothers became one of the longest-running shows in West End history, with international productions continuing worldwide.
Alongside his theatre work, Russell has written for television and published the novel The Wrong Boy. In recent years, he has also focused on visual art, exhibiting his work in Liverpool and London. His plays remain widely performed across the globe, and in 2026, Shirley Valentine celebrates 40 years on stage.