THEATRE REVIEWS

John Godber shows his roots as he directs "Teechers", a play that he wrote some years ago. It shows what he and every teacher experiences during their working life. Pip Leckenby's minimalistic set is typical of her design work as we see some old school desks trying to find some scenery to portray the right image. The play is a series of dialogues showing children and staff of Whitewalls school, a school trying to come to terms with its pupils and environment. All of today's problems are there, with most that have always been there and will never be solved, but staff and pupils try, before endeavouring to come to terms with the outside world.

Three actors do a fine job switching from one character to another as they work their way through the play. Matthew Booth plays the new drama teacher Mr Dixon, who has to come to terms with the reality of life in and out of school; he also has numerous other parts to play, including pupils such as Salty. Vicky Binns plays many pupils and staff, male and female, such as Gail, one of the disillusioned teenagers. Jennifer Ness holds the display together by treating the audience as pupils under the beady eye of a head teacher, before she makes her way into other characters such as Hobby.

The audience enjoyed themselves as they chuckled at situations as they arose throughout the evening, but the play did not have a lot to say that was not already known. Better than watching television, especially the music. © BA

“Teechers” is in Hull from the 2nd to the 4th of September, 2004 and then touring returning 22nd November to 11th December.