TEECHERS LEAVERS '22

About

Blackeyed Theatre, in association with South Hill Park, presents
Teechers Leavers '22
by John Godber
Directed by Adrian McDougall
Hilarious, high energy and full blooded, Teechers Leavers '22 brings to life an array of terrifying teachers and hopeless pupils through the eyes of Salty, Gail and Hobby; three Year 11 students facing a scary world, armed only with imagination and a joy of theatre.

It's 2022 at Whitewall, a struggling academy that's failed its Ofsted. The bell's gone and they can't afford a new one. The first fifteen have lost sixty-seven nil and the playing field needs levelling up. Sadly, Whitewall's led by donkeys. So's Whitehall, come to that. Enter Miss Nixon, a new drama teacher with fire in her belly, a lesson for the elite and a well 'sick' Tik Tok!

Will Miss Nixon abandon her students for a soothing private school? Who puts the bounce in Miss Prime, the PE teacher? Will Mrs Parry ever find her Koko? And why does everyone smell of spring onions?

Unplug, switch off and buckle up for the world premiere tour of Teechers Leavers '22, John Godber's breath-taking, breakneck comedy about education for the 'haves' and 'have nots' and a generation left behind.

Rating: Recommended for age 11+

Warnings: Contains strong language

Running time: Approx 110 minutes (plus interval)

Website: www.blackeyedtheatre.co.uk

Reviews for Blackeyed Theatre:
"One of the most innovative, audacious companies working in contemporary English Theatre" – The Stage.

"Teechers Leavers 22 hits home not only with the same laughter and punchy theatricality as the original but also with the same political rage" – The Guardian.

"The revised version is better than the original – it's less cosy, less anecdotal and offers a more courageous polemic. It's the kind of work Truck and Godber became famous for: edgy, observational, political, funny and tragic, uplifting and hard-hitting" – British Theatre Guide.

Reviews and Reaction (for Blackeyed Theatre's previous productions of Teechers):
"A fine piece of work" – John Godber.

"Hilarious" – The Stage.

"A top of the class production" – British Theatre Guide.

"Bags of energy, ingenuity and impressive physicality" – The Good Review.

★★★★★ – "Fantastic. Highly recommend it for teachers of KS4 and KS5… I am a huge fan of Teechers and have taught it many times over the years. I really enjoyed this performance; the cast worked as a fantastic ensemble and brought Godber's characters to life with skill, enthusiasm and originality" – Drama & Theatre Magazine.

★★★★★ – "Featuring an up-to-date music soundtrack, Teechers brings to life an array of larger than life teachers and pupils in the extremely capable hands of just three actors who effortlessly and frequently switch characters at the drop of a school cap" – Weekend Notes.

★★★★ – "One can see that Godber has earned his place at the top but Blackeyed Theatre Company should be right up there with him… The rhythm these three have built between them is like electricity. They are so so tuned in to each other and carried the show beautifully to entertain a very full house with their talent and exuberance… Catch this show if you can, Godber is a great writer and Blackeyed Theatre Company are a great company. What a winner!" – Love Shrewsbury.

"Although each actor is dressed as one character, they play a multitude of people. Their remarkable transformations through the slightest of gestures or movement are a wonder to behold… You get the feeling that many attempt it and do it well but it is very hard to get that straight A. This was a definite straight A. Well done to the director, Adrian McDougall for shaping an excellent production and a performance that got a rapturous ovation from over 200 students. That's some feedback!" – Your Harlow.

"Teechers will have you in stitches, and at other points leave you angered at the injustice of our education system. It is wonderfully funny and thought provoking and well worth a watch" – Cuckoo Review.

★★★★ "Adrian McDougall's production for Blackeyed Theatre is energetic and admirably suited to school-age members of the audience " – Anne At The Theatre.

"An electric injection of hilarity… The three-person cast were utterly amazing…as they played every character, swapping and changing seemingly effortlessly, the energy never slipped and the characterisation was wonderful" – Almost Amazing Grace.