After September

Thanks, as always, to Oldbury Rep for the invitation to the opening play of their 2025/2026 Season, it was very much appreciated.

“After September” is set against the backdrop of the early swinging 60’s. 10 members of staff forgather to prepare themselves for the start of another term. There are challenges afoot, not helped by the arrival of a mysterious gentleman!

The setting throughout the whole play is in the staffroom at the Gwendolen Kyte School for Girls, the day before term starts in early September 1961. This being a boarding school with all extra issues this entails.

The play was ably directed by Jo Foley whose announcement at the beginning of the performance in the style of the school notices re mobile phones, photography, talking etc and the threat of withdrawn playtimes and detentions was a brilliant start to the evening, setting the tone perfectly.

The opening of the play saw a cine film of life in the school, encouraging prospective parents to send their daughters to board at the school which superbly set the scene for what was to follow.

The use of incidental hymn music added to the scholastic atmosphere, evoking memories of school assemblies as the music teacher filled the stage with live piano music.

My eye was immediately drawn to the large windows at the back of this impressive interior set and the grounds beyond beyond, which was very realistic, you could easily imagine yourself being in a large country house with one of the airy and spacious  rooms being used as the Staff Room, every member of staff having their own space, not to be usurped by another member of staff - the classic 1960’s staff room set up.

The programme had photos of the actors in their younger days, it was great fun comparing the school photos to the characters.  Each member of staff had their own idiosyncrasies which they played exquisitely throughout, much to the delight of the audience. The character acting was excellent, by all and could not be faulted. As the play progressed and we delved deeper into the questionable goings on at the school, we get an insight into each of the characters imperfections: Miss McBain’s realistic and consistent Scottish accent was realistically brought to life by Sam Gessey, but the big question is, why doesn’t she bring her mother to visit the school?  Gail Mee as the Maths teacher, Miss Fisher, affectionately reminded me of my Maths teacher at my old grammar school!  Gail’s, Miss Fisher fervently demonstrating that the job was her life, keeping her away from her domineering and overbearing sisters;  Rebecca Weston gave a very good account of the haughty music teacher, Miss Pink who speaks her mind and vigorously defends her independence and her devotion to the next Gilbert and Sullivan production; Rachel Jefferson gave an excellent impression of an efficient but overworked jack of all trades, Miss Bickerstaff,  but her undying devotion covers her passionate ambition for her future as well as her dark secret, what did happen to Trixie, Miss Kyte’s pet dog, whilst in Miss Bickerstaff’s care?  Sarah Wilkins, as Miss Cross the establishment’s teacher of Religious Knowledge, an apparently pathetic figure with a talent for secreting alcohol and a knack for picking locks! you could not imagine how she would be able to control a room of girls or her gin intake. Elizabeth Julian as Miss Kershaw, the Gym Mistress who is mourning her lost youth and tries to hang on to it by vigorous exercise; Eve Pitt as Miss Duke, Geography and History, has ambition and looks to advance her career but her loyal friendship with Natalie Forbes-Moore’s Miss De-Vere, who, with youth on her side, is exploring her sexuality and demonstrates a maturity well beyond her years and was not afraid to convey her true feelings,  her facial expressions were excellent and very knowing. Tracey Foden as the housekeeper, Mrs Godfrey, certainly came across as a busybody wanting to know everything and never stopped telling whoever would listen, that she was the real reason that the school kept going. Their combined antagonism was address to the school’s headmistress, Miss Kyte, the daughter of the school’s founder who, on the surface wants to rule the roost with a rod of iron, but we ultimately find out, that her devotion was not to the school and her mother but more to the individuals that made up the loyal staff.  Despite their individual peccadillos, what eventually came across was the enduring friendship that kept the place going and none of them would be able to survive without it. This was severely tested with the arrival of Mr Smith, the School Inspector who had come to investigate two complaints that he]ad been made against the school, played with the bureaucratic authority by Dek Bagley.  The staff exercise their best detective brains and release various other skeletons as they come out of the cupboard and in the process are able to defeat the officious School Inspector and gloriously embark on a newfound plan to keep the school going and keep the team together at the same time and with it, the crowning accomplishment of this truly enjoyable production was the absolutely perfect choice of music at the end of the play as Mr Smith is sent packing with the inspirational, ‘Hit the Road Jack’ It could not have been encapsulated  better!

The overriding theme of this play is the supportive friendship shown by the characters in their quest to help each other, a sort of allegory for volunteer theatre - everyone pulling together to get the best result and yet again, Oldbury Rep have a successful production to be proud of. This can only be achieved by all the other members helping in their various areas. Jo has certainly managed to bring everyone together and all involved should be justly proud and grateful thanks go everyone at Oldbury Rep who put this delightful production together in “After September” and for their kind invitation.

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