Cast members going back to school in Teechers

Hobby, Salty and Gail, the students in The Stevenage Lytton Players' production of Teechers (Image: Supplied by The Stevenage Lytton Players)

The Stevenage Lytton Players are rehearsing for Teechers, John Godber’s comedy about life at a struggling academy.

From the Yorkshire-based author of Up ‘N’ Under, Bouncers and Shakers, and originally set in the 1980s, Teechers has been sent forward in time to 2018, incorporating all the wonders and perils of modern life.

Your school days are supposed to be the best of your life, but for Hobby, Gail, and Salty, three imminent school leavers, their lives have no direction until the arrival of a fresh maverick drama teacher who transforms their lives.

Lies, schemes and teachers fighting students – their last year is filled with unforgettable drama, and a fair amount of innuendo too.

Mr Nixon, Bobby and Gail in The Stevenage Lytton Players' production of Teechers (Image: Supplied by The Stevenage Lytton Players)

Told through their eyes, they bring to life an assortment of unconventional teaching, political satire, and razor-sharp wit.

Director Tom Beirne has assembled a talented small cast, each bringing to life multiple characters.

Tom said: “Every cast member is playing a number of roles, and they’re ridiculously good at switching.

“When I first read the play, I realised just how contrasting life in the ’80s was compared to now.

Teechers director Tom Beirne (Image: Supplied by The Stevenage Lytton Players)

“The whole cast have helped with me with writing new jokes and modernising the lines.

“I really must give them credit for a lot of the comedy in this.

“Every rehearsal they end up adding something more and I end up running over by 10 minutes just due to laughter breaks.”

Amongst the uncertainty of a world dominated by technology, hormones, and Brexit, Teechers tells the story of humour found amid the struggle to survive at school.

Rehearsals for The Stevenage Lytton Players' production of Teechers (Image: Supplied by The Stevenage Lytton Players)

Tom added: “The play does have a serious statement about the education system, and the cast superbly execute that poignancy.

“I promise you’ll never have seen the show performed like this.”

Teechers runs at The Stevenage Lytton Theatre in Vardon Road, from Wednesday, April 18 to Saturday, April 21.

Tickets are priced £9, and £7 for concessions.

The teachers in The Stevenage Lytton Players' production of Teechers (Image: Supplied by The Stevenage Lytton Players)

You can buy tickets from ticketsource.co.uk/lyttonplayers or call the box office on 01438 357407.

• For trailers and the chance to win tickets, follow the Lytton Players on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with the handle @LyttonPlayers

Rehearsing the school disco in The Stevenage Lytton Players' production of Teechers (Image: Supplied by The Stevenage Lytton Players)

Teechers director Tom Beirne (Image: Supplied by The Stevenage Lytton Players)