REVIEW:

Education, Education, Education, The Salberg Theatre, Salisbury, Saturday, 5 May

WHAT are politicians for? There’s plenty of evidence from countries which have had no government for extended periods that we manage pretty well without them. Politicians just want to leave their mark for posterity, right?

Education, Education, Education is set on Friday, 2 May, 1997, the day after Tony Blair’s first election victory, and takes its title from his shamelessly Thatcherite mantra: that was a warning right there, eh? It was a world of unbridled optimism (apparently,) Cool Britannia and Britpop, and Tony was all set to make politics grate again. And again.

The teachers at Wordsworth Comprehensive (remember them: comprehensives, that is, not teachers?) are calling the day something else, though. Despite the upbeat proselytising of their headmaster – “we’ll get lots of money and everything will be OK!” – Friday May 2nd. is Muck-Up Day, the day of the Leavers’ Assembly, when feral students go wild and consternation reigns.

Of course, this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Emily Greenslade, their most troubled pupil – bright, but out of control - is harbouring a grudge after being refused permission to go on a school trip. One thing leads to another and, pretty soon, Emily’s walloped a teacher, is on the roof threatening to jump, and parents are arriving to see their little darlings being eulogised by their adoring tutors!

Throughout all this, German placement teacher, Tobias, views and narrates the goings on with a deadpan, analytical Teutonic humour that is clearly Vorsprung durch Brexit. It’s fast, furious fun, combining music, dance and sharp characterisations with some thought-provoking questions.

In the end, though, out of optimism was born failure and remorse. But never mind - Tony got his legacy and we got some fine theatre and comedy in return. Actually, perhaps that’s what politicians are for, to give us all a good laugh. In which case, job done.

By Chris Parkinson-Brown.