Teechers

TEECHERS a play presented by Wigan Little Theatre at Wigan Little Theatre, Crompton Street, Wigan on Saturday, 29th January 2022.

John Godber wrote this play in 1984; it was published in 1985 and first performed by the Hull Truck Theatre Company at the 1987 Edinburgh Festival. The play is a ‘play within a play’ in which three students perform an account of their time in secondary school (Whitewall High School), to their teachers. The play focuses specifically on their time with Mr. Nixon, the new drama teacher who ignites their passion for stage with his idealism and belief that all children should be treated equally. At the end of the play, Mr Nixon leaves Whitewall High School to teach at St George's School which is regarded more highly. Once the three kids know that Nixon is leaving, they start to understand and reflect on how much Mr Nixon has helped them.

This production was directed brilliantly by Maureen Schofield a current member of Wigan Little Theatre. Teechers was the only production that WLT decided to carry forward from its cancelled 2019/2020 season and now, having seen it, I understand why!  Maureen had under her wing, three amazing actors, all of who were well rehearsed, worked brilliantly together and brought to life to some wonderfully colourful and interesting characters!  As far as I was concerned, this play, was a winner as soon as those curtains parted…. congratulations Maureen… be ever so proud!  The curtain opened to a simple set with two double desks with two chairs at each and a type of cloakroom set up to one side where most of the ‘props’ were kept.  We were told at the start, by the ‘students’, “TO USE OUR IMAGINATIONS, BECAUSE THE THREE OF US HAVE TO PLAY MANY DIFFERENT PARTS AND NARRATE, SO PLEASE CONCENTRATE” … so with our instructions to the fore, it was time to sit back and allow our imaginations to ‘run riot’ and ‘paint our own pictures’…

It was obvious from the start that this production had been meticulously rehearsed (credit to both Director and Actors) which resulted in a slick and precise production.  The choice of musical extracts, which punctuated the play throughout, were well-chosen and gave the production a seamless feel and flow which ultimately provided us with an outstanding, thought provoking and entertaining night of theatre! 

THE CAST… Paul Leffler played ‘Salty’… who is totally disillusioned with school life until he met up with Mr Nixon the new drama teacher. He lives on an estate where unemployment is high and he is worried about his future. (Paul also plays the central figure in the play ‘Mr Nixon’). Stacey Vernon played the part of ‘Gail’… the most enthusiastic of the three students; Oggy Moxon, the school bully fancies her, but she is more interested in Mr Nixon who she has a major crush on.  Ayesha Morris plays the part of ‘Hobby’: she basically hates school, drama and teachers; often skips class, but is slowly won over by Mr Nixon. 

As well as their ‘principal roles’ these three had twenty other roles to create and characterise!  Some of which were played by just one of them, some roles by two and some roles by all three at different times!  I could talk about all three actors individually, but there is little or no doubt, to make this play the success that it was, ‘individuality’ was not the key, although the individual characterisations were amazing! What was essential was that the three actors had to work well together as a team which they did, with great aplomb!  This was a fast-moving play with a dynamic scrip which required all cast members to not only have superb memories, but also to possess superb characterisation and accent skills, great comedic timing, great stage presence which all three possessed in bucket loads!  But, as well as the above and in order to make the narrative work and make sense, it was essential, that these actors where able to deal with the countless scene, character, clothing and accessory changes and that those changes were slick, precise and convincing, which they were!  The changes were subtle… put a jacket on and ‘Salty’ became ‘Mr Nixon’; ‘Hobby’ slipped on a pair of glasses and a pink scarf and she became ‘Mrs Parry’; and ‘Gail’ just picked up a tennis racket, added the most memorable ‘snort’ to her character and low and behold we had ‘Miss Jackie Prime’… quick /slick/ seamless … outstanding!  It was a privilege to be there that evening… be ever so proud guys… amazing job!

To make any production a success requires the “unseen hero’s” … the “pusher and pullers”, the “constructors and painters”, the “lighting and sound” engineers and Wigan Little Theatre are blessed with so many!  So, its “congrats” to Stage Managers: Paul Dawson, Joey Wiswell and Ben Cunliffe and their ‘Stage Crew’: Elaine Delaney, Olivia Beardsworth, Charlotte and Lydia Grundy, Jacob Jones and Ian Trumble.  The “Set Constructors” … Brian Heap, John Gostelow, Dave Flanagan, Gary and David Hill and where would a ‘construction’ be without its “Painters” – Christine Armstrong, Ellen Fitton, Val Millar, Maureen Schofield, Veronica Teesdale, Mary Hill and Pat Ashurst. On “Lighting and Sound” which is always first rate at WLT we had… Owen Rasburn, Rachel Prater, Jacob Lathom, Kim Brown, Becky Hampson and Matthew Woolley (Lighting)… Mel Meadows, Rick and Sandy Kershaw, Ben Steggals (Sound).  Well done to you all… great job!

The 2022 Season sees Wigan Little Theatre celebrating its 75th Anniversary.  On behalf of NODA and from myself, can I take this opportunity to wish you all a wonderful year.  I hope and pray that everything goes according to plan and that your year is a major success. If I can be of any assistance during your celebratory year, you know where I am!

Thank you for inviting my wife and I, we both thoroughly enjoyed the production, and we look forward to visiting you again soon! Stay safe, keep well…

Jim Briscoe
NODA NW
District 6 Rep

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