The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureTheatre

Education Education Education at Trafalgar Studios

Education Education Education at Trafalgar Studios | Theatre review
7 June 2019
Laura Jorden
Avatar
Laura Jorden
7 June 2019

All aboard the nostalgia school bus boys and girls! The year is 1997 and we’re meeting the students and teachers at Wordsworth Comprehensive School in an inventive new comedy Education, Education, Education.

Written collectively by the Wardrobe Ensemble, this is a striking and enjoyable 75-minute lesson in the scuffles of school life, with successful retro humour, non-stop activity and superb staff room banter, which cleverly subjects the audience to the many struggles of the 1990s education system.

The play is set the morning after that victory before when a grinning Tony Blair, leader of New Labour, has just won the general election by a landslide and become the UK’s next Prime Minister. Tony’s not the only one starting a new job; German teaching assistant Tobias informs us it’s his first day at Wordsworth, and he’s very excited. James Newton is delightfully deadpan, delivering his character’s soliloquies with wry observation and precision timing.  

Unfortunately for our teaching newbie, it’s also the last day of year 11 and, as the other teachers tell him, it’s going to get very unruly when the students go stunt crazy in their efforts to disrupt and take over their school.

Education’s plot can at times feel more like a few common school situations too loosely hung together with a kickin’ 90s soundtrack, and a handful of the lines would only get a B-. However, top marks are handed out to the cast, each member playing both students and teachers with captivating energy and ease.

The creative team also deserve an A+. Overseen by co-directors Jesse Jones and Helena Middleton, every aspect of this production is top of the class, from the inventive lighting to the use of student photographs, smooth costume changes and enterprising interaction with simple props, such as tables – and what they can do with two large doors on rollers is truly mind-blowing – all combining to engross the audience in the texture of Wordsworth, and its many departments over the course of this day.

Wee see the familiar scenario of one teacher having to cover another’s lesson, in this case a very funny Ben Vardy as gym instructor Timothy Pashley, who is forced to take over French. There are also a couple of clashes at the school; kind and holistic Miss Belltop-Doyle (Jesse Meadows, giving a smashing performance with a little bit of spice) wants to inspire her students but Robocop wannabe and head of discipline Louise Turner (a fantastic Hanora Kamen), who sees her job as part sergeant, part zookeeper, wants to terrify hers. The other showdown is between a troublesome student, portrayed with superb sullenness by Emily Greenslade, and her “unfair” teacher Paul McIntyre (a tremendous Tom Brennan). Trying to hold all this together is the marvellous Hugh Mills as school head Tom England, an over-extended but still optimistic leader.

As a school trip down memory lane, Education, Education, Education, taken from one of Tony Blair’s many New Labour catchphrases, is a delight and effectively shines a light on the hope and belief that Things Can Only Get Better. It might not be for everyone but those who can remember the pressure of nurturing a Tamagotchi, the excitement of opening a Smash Hits magazine or shag bands will revel in getting this comedic blast of Cool Britannia once again.

★★★★★

Laura Jorden
Photo: James Bullimore

Education Education Education is at Trafalgar Studios from 3rd until 29th June 2019. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Related Itemsreview

More in Theatre

Live Lab at The Yard Theatre: An interview with associate director Cheryl Gallagher

Mersa Auda
Read More

We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online

★★★★★
Samuel Nicholls
Read More

We Ask These Questions of Everybody: An interview with Amble Skuse and Toria Banks

Mersa Auda
Read More

Public Domain at Southwark Playhouse

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

Unlimited Festival at the Southbank Centre: Centre stage for diversity

★★★★★
James Humphrey
Read More

RSC Next Generation: Young Bloods proves Shakespeare is timeless

Brooke Snowe
Read More

An interview with Ifrah Ismael: Tales from the Front Line and other stories

Selina Begum
Read More

A Livestream with David Bedella at Crazy Coqs Online

★★★★★
Regan Harle
Read More

Undercover at Morpheus Show Online

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Theatre review

Laura Jorden

Education Education Education

★★★★★

Dates

3rd June - 29th June 2019

Price

£25-£45

Links & directions

TwitterInstagramFacebookWebsiteMap

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Female filmmakers lead nominees for the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards
    Cinema
  • An interview with Ifrah Ismael: Tales from the Front Line and other stories
    Theatre
  • Persian Lessons
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Jeremiah Fraites – Piano Piano
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Lonely the Brave – The Hope List
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • 23 Walks
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Live Lab at The Yard Theatre: An interview with associate director Cheryl Gallagher
    Theatre
  • We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • We Ask These Questions of Everybody: An interview with Amble Skuse and Toria Banks
    Theatre
  • Hello Cosmos – Dream Harder
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • WandaVision: Marvel’s charming sitcom proves an astounding success
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • The Queen’s Gambit: A chess story that’s not about the moves but the motives
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Undercover at Morpheus Show Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Ten short literary collections to get you back into reading
    Literature
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

The Last Tree premiere: On the red carpet with Shola Amoo, Sam Adewumni and Tai Golding at Sundance London 2019
Custody at Ovalhouse Theatre | Theatre review