Next Lesson

by Chris Woodley

Overview

In 1988, 14-year-old Michael comes out as gay. Later he returns as a teacher. In the background: the notorious Section 28 of Thatcher's Local Government Act, which prohibited schools from "promoting homosexuality." The narrative of the play spans from 1988 to 2003. Ideal for drama students, colleges, amateur theatre groups, local theatres.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781912430192
Publisher:	AURORA METRO PR
Publication date:	09/17/2019
Pages:	72
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

Chris Woodley is an actor, writer and teacher. As an actor he has worked in Iceland and the UK, performing at London venues including The Criterion, The Lyric, The Yard and Greenwich Theatre. In 2013 he co-founded Hyphen Theatre Company with Esmé Patey-Ford and developed his first piece Elephant in the Room. His first short play Plus One was performed at The Criterion Theatre in the same year. Next Lesson is his first full-length play and has received great reviews from audiences. His most recent play The Soft Subject (A Love Story) was also nominated for The Brighton Fringe Award for Excellence and received great press last year at Edinburgh.

Table of Contents

Endorsements

Author biography

Theatre Company info

Author's Note

Playscript

Editorial Reviews

Next Lesson is an interesting and unique look at LGBT culture, identity and public thought throughout the 80s, 90s, and 00s.” – Everything Theatre

“Author Chris Woodley keeps the piece leaping through time as every scene moves the narrative forward to a different year – allowing us to follow the characters and their stories

as they develop over the decades. These individual snapshots add up to a colourful collage that deftly documents a particular period of British history.” – Gay Times

“In Next Lesson, Woodley manages to make the audience laugh, tear up, and enjoy a little boogie… Definitely worth going back to school for” – ★★★★ Diva Magazine

“Incredible… Section 28 was one of the most hateful pieces of legislation brought in by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. Next Lesson by Chris Woodley looks at the knock-on effects of this legislation in the same school between 1988 and 2006. It’s funny, moving and heartwarming stuff. This excellent play is a great reminder of how fear and oppression can cause untold damage amongst vulnerable teenagers and that with love, honesty and unity we can overcome the curveballs life throws at us.” – ★★★★ Attitude

 “Highly entertaining… Brought in by the Thatcher regime, Section 28 of the 1988 Local Government Act forbade local authorities from promoting homosexual relationships as equal to heterosexual ones. This hated piece of legislation created confusion and caution in schools, undoubtedly prevented teachers from addressing homophobic bullying, denying lesbian and gay pupils appropriate sex and social education. Chris Woodley’s excellent play charts the education system through those years, creating lesbian, gay and bi characters from both sides of the classroom and staff room.” – ★★★★ British Theatre

From the Publisher

A Masterpiece… How has being queer in the classroom changed over the past thirty years? This informative play is your revision guide. Next Lesson is one school play that you won’t want to miss.“

Gay Times