 A former hairdresser who became a popular playwright, two of whose long-running successes, Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine, he adapted to the screen in 1983 and 1989 respectively (both d. Lewis Gilbert). Both deal with women finding their own voices and learning not to submit to stereotyped expectations; the former received Oscar and BAFTA nominations, the latter a second BAFTA nomination; Julie Walters was BAFTA-nominated for Rita and Pauline Collins was Oscar-nominated for her star role in Shirley Valentine. His musical, Blood Brothers, has been running continuously in London since 1983. Brian McFarlane, Encyclopedia of British Film
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