Originally published 1989 | ||
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Characters Barry Wobschall, Miss Jackie Prime Similar Up 'n' Under, Dracula, Not About Heroes, Daisy Pulls It Off, Absurd Person Singular | ||
Teechers is a play by John Godber, written in 1984 and was published in 1985. It was first performed by the Hull Truck Theatre Company at the 1987 Edinburgh Festival starring Martin Barass as Salty, Gill Tompkins as Gail and Shirley Anne Selby as Hobby. It is a play within a play in which three students put on a performance to their teachers. Everything in the play is reduced to the bare essentials, with very little set and the three actors playing twenty other parts. However, Godber has said that it could also be performed with twenty different actors. Godber also specified the use of contemporary chart music to keep the play current. In 2010 a revival of the play was again performed at Hull Truck Theatre, before touring at other venues. The cast included Zoe Lister as Gail, Peter McMillan as Salty and Claire Eden as Hobby. The play was updated with modern references and modern music. It was recently performed at Settle College, an esteemed school similar to that outlined in the play.
Contents
Teechers by john godber the play
Synopsis
Three school leavers, Salty, Hobby and Gail Saunders perform to an audience an account of their time in secondary school (given the name 'Whitewall' for their performance), specifically their time with Mr Jeff Nixon, the new drama teacher who ignites their passion for the stage with his idealism and belief that all children should be treated equally. The children mention that the names of the characters have been changed: Mr Nixon's real name is Mr Harrison, mentioned at the beginning. At the end of the play he leaves Whitewall High School to teach at St George's, another school with much better teachers.