Next Lesson by Chris Woodley

Chris Woodley was a secondary school drama teacher until he became an actor-writer. The one-man show based on his personal and professional challenges enjoyed a run at the Edinburgh Fringe, and has subsequently toured schools. Next Lesson was his first play, and is now published by Aurora Metro Books.

The story starts in the year that Margaret Thatcher imposed her shamelessly discriminatory Section 28 on schools, and depicts a number of relationship conflicts that unfold over the course of the 18 years that follow.

Section 28 criminalised the promotion of homosexuality in schools and by local authorities. At a time when the LGBTQ community was dealing with the AIDS epidemic, it was a law specifically designed to persecute and oppress.

The impetus to write this play seems to have been forged from the same energy that led protests in the streets at the time. Woodley's mission is to combat homophobia with education and compassion.

The most dynamic scenes are those in which we can hear Woodley's own experience informing the story. Witnessing a teacher defend his choice of text to a disapproving parent reveals the desperation that Section 28 must have inspired. But more often than not, period context is shoehorned into this series of duologues, rather than acting as an obstacle to the characters’ need. The energy and ambition of the piece will appeal to the student groups it is designed for, even if the scenes stall a little.