A hilarious new farce about life in the classroom is coming to Department in Ryde this July.
Written and directed by Joe Plumb, Special Measures is a riotous comedy set in the chaotic world of secondary school teaching.
What the play is about
What begins as an ordinary Monday morning in a school’s English department quickly spirals into complete pandemonium when news arrives that a surprise inspection is imminent. As panic sets in, lesson plans unravel, tempers flare, and carefully constructed classroom routines collapse in spectacular fashion.
From battles over the last remaining highlighters to disastrous attempts at teaching Shakespeare, from a malfunctioning coffee machine flooding the corridor to a well-intentioned lesson literally going up in flames, nothing goes to plan.
Meanwhile, personal dramas simmer beneath the surface, alliances are tested, and one very inconvenient breakdown threatens to derail everything entirely.
Writer’s inspiration
Joe Plumb said,
“After ten years in the classroom, I realised that teaching is, at its heart, a brilliantly unpredictable farce.
“Writing Special Measures gave me the chance to celebrate the chaos, pressure and absurdity that teachers navigate every day.
“It’s been a joy bringing the show to life with such a fantastic cast, and I can’t wait for audiences to experience the madness for themselves.”
Packed with larger-than-life characters, razor-sharp dialogue and relentless physical comedy, Special Measures is a fast-paced celebration of the absurdity of school life. Featuring roller-skating teachers, musical theatre meltdowns and a department teetering on the brink, the show captures the pressure, unpredictability and unexpected hilarity of life in the classroom.
Meet the cast
The production features a cast of familiar Department faces, including Holly Downer (Re:Tell, Henry, Twelfth Night) as beleaguered Head of Department Hannah; Fiona Gwinnett as the coffee-fuelled Gina; Ash Hetherington (The Yellow House) as the wildly eccentric Performing Arts teacher Johannes; Holly Gardiner as Wanda, a PE teacher forced to teach English following a timetabling disaster; Ruby Beaman as Early Career Teacher Kate; Emily Smith as English teacher Ali; Janey Hawtin as long-suffering cleaner Val; Selwyn Hawtin as the Inspector; and Joe Plumb as Assistant Headteacher Tony.
Will they survive the inspection, or will everything descend into total catastrophe?
Where and when
Special Measures runs from 9th-11th July at Department, 29 Cross Street, Ryde, with evening performances at 8pm and an additional matinee at 3pm on Saturday 11th July.
How to book
Discounted tickets are available for anyone who works in a school. Simply bring valid school ID, or a box of unmarked English books, to claim the offer.
Book your tickets now on the Department website.
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