The theme of teachers is something everyone can relate to. As the promotional Government advert says, we can all remember that one teacher who either inspired us or (actually the advert doesn't say this) was collectively despised or derided by the whole school.
John Godber's Teechers is about a drama teacher who connects with his uninterested, unruly 15-year-old pupils and becomes a massively positive influence in their lives. Fresh out of college, Mr Nixon - passionate about teaching and full of ideals - comes face to face with the harsh reality of teaching in a rough comprehensive school.
The play shows him become increasingly ground down by pupils' bad behaviour, cover shifts, poor facilities and scorn for his subject. Eventually he crumbles and applies for a job in the neighbouring grammar school, seduced by its respectful students and state of the art drama studio.
The play Teechers is devised and put on by three of his pupils to show him the impact he has on them as a way of imploring him to stay at the school. We are left to wonder if it works.
Impressively, just three actors from The Abingdon Touring Theatre play all the parts in their adaptation. Henry Bays, Charlie Walsh and Hannah Brooks slip effortlessly between the various characters, donning different bits and pieces of wardrobe to symbolise the character change.
This is quite a feat, requiring much flexibility from the actors who seamlessly accommodate the differing accents and distinctive mannerism of the characters. The actors in this company for gap year students are all very young - the oldest being 22 - which makes their performances all the more admirable.
The characters they play are recognisable to all of us - the nervous teacher, the disciplinarian, the rotund theatrical, the smug PE teacher, the grumpy caretaker, the school bully and the kid who always gets told off.
Teechers is very funny and highly enjoyable to watch. Although conceived in 1985, its critique of the British education system is, sadly, still relevant today.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article