Molly Davies’s new play extends the Royal Court’s “season of revolution” by showing a group of eight-year-olds in a state of mutiny. The result is a very funny, lively satire on imposed educational formulae that only at the end turns a bit too palpably preachy.
Davies’s strength is that she clearly writes from experience and has devised a hilariously plausible learning system that is being road-tested in selected primary schools. It is called “Badger Do Best” and uses anthropomorphic fables to instil good behaviour in children.
That sounds fine, except that the saccharine stories represent a rich commercial opportunity for their government-approved creator, Sali Rayner, and place social conformity above academic excellence. And the whole scheme looks like it will be scuppered when the young Louie (played by a girl or boy at alternate performances) obstinately refuses to be badgered. The play aims some sharp blows at a one-size-fits-all system and shows the financial pressures that force headteachers to obey government diktat. It really takes off, however, when Sali Rayner herself, played with a wonderfully glacial benevolence by Amanda Abbington, turns up at the school to deal head-on with Nancy Allsop’s impressively subversive Louie. Rather like a primary school version of Lindsay Anderson’s movie, If…, Vicky Featherstone’s production also succeeds in capturing the idea that education depends on a precarious consensus between teachers and the taught.
Nikki Amuka-Bird as the approval-seeking head, Ony Uhiara as a disintegrating teacher, Julie Hesmondhaigh as a common-sensical support are all spot-on and the child actors visibly relish the prospect of classroom revolt. It’s just a pity that, having sabotaged one set of imposed values, Davies finally allows the children to become mouthpieces for her own clearly articulated message.
• Until 20 December. Box office: 020-7565 5000. Venue: Royal Court
