Teechers, St Osmund's Amateur Productions, St Osmund's School Hall, Long Lane. Runs until tomorrow SIMPLICITY is the key to this John Godber favourite.

The set consists of a few chairs and desks, school uniform is the only costume and the cast have very few props to help them move the action along.

Teechers is a play within a play and relies on just three actors to portray about 20 characters in the course of this classroom comedy.

The actors have to constantly switch parts as they tell the story of Mr Nixon, a young drama teacher, as he struggles with his first job in a rough, Inner City comprehensive.

Inevitably, there were variations in the credibility of the portrayals as the young cast constantly switch roles.

But Jason Crompton, Jill Howarth and Pam Higson got to grips with their main parts well and they were at their best taking centre stage as bored fifth formers Salty, Hobby and Gail.

Their slouchy demeanour and delivery of the slang dialogue brought to life the class of no-hopers who develop a love of drama.

But the meaner characters, such as the school bully and bitter deputy head, were not as threatening as they might have been. JANET HUGHES

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