John Godber Company’s renowned side-splitting comedy Teechers heads to the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme this February.
Originally written in 1987 and now revamped for a post-Covid world, Teechers holds as much relevance today as the day it was written. Full of Godber’s notorious wit and razor-sharp social observations, Teechers places the education system under the microscope to expose the pressures of adolescence against the backdrop of a struggling institution.
Telling the story of B-Tech drama students Salty, Gail and Hobby, three students full of teenage swagger who perform a hilarious, fast-moving and hard-hitting account of life at their school Whitewall Academy as part of their final year exam, this play-within-a-play navigates the personalities of students, teachers and support staff in a depiction of a system struggling to meet ever-changing demands.
New Year … same problems!
It is the end of term and Godber’s hilarious comedy masterpiece has been reset for our post-Covid times. Bristling with teenage swagger and outlandish imagination, Salty, Gail and Hobby use their B.Tech Performance exam to showcase their work.
What follows is a funny, fast-moving, hard-hitting account of life at Whitewall Academy as they play staff, students and site premises managers, including the new drama teacher Ms Nixon who has helped get them into drama and changed their lives.
But as Salty, Gail and Hobby conclude their performance and leave state education, it appears that Miss Nixon is moving on too … to the local private school.
Cast of Teechers
Bringing this satirical comedy to life, the cast of Teechers includes Jo Patmore (Ladies Day, Ladies Down Under, New Vic; As You Like It, Northern Broadsides and New Vic) as Gail, Levi Payne (Black Tie Ball, New Vic; Teechers Leavers ’22, John Godber Company, Hull Truck Theatre) as Salty and Sophie Suddaby (Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright, UK Tour; Do I Love You?, John Godber Company) as Hobby.
How much are the tickets for Teechers ?
Tickets are on sale now, priced from £15 to £42.
How do I book tickets to watch Teechers ?
Tickets are now on sale and available from the Box Office, by calling 01782 717962 or visit the New Vic Theatre’s website here.
How long will Teecher be running for and what are the timings?
Teechers will open at the New Vic Theatre on Tuesday, 3 February and will run until Saturday, 7 February 2026 with evening shows at 7.30pm and Matinee at 2.15pm (on Thursday and Saturday).
Where is New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme?
New Vic Theatre
Etruria Road
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Staffordshire
ST5 0JG
The theatre has a large car park, with a £2.20 charge on show days. Only contactless card payment is currently accepted for parking charges.
The theatre café is open 10am to 3pm, Monday to Saturday – then from 5.30pm for pre-show meals.
Booking is required for pre-show meals 5.30pm onwards, via their booking system at this link.
About The New Vic Theatre
Founded in 1962, the New Vic is the producing theatre for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. With around eight major productions a year, its varied programme includes contemporary drama, new commissions, adaptations and classics. Recent productions have toured nationally and internationally, and have transferred to London and Manchester. The New Vic has developed extensive and award-winning community involvement. It works regionally, nationally and internationally through its education department and New Vic Borderlines, which aims to change the lives of the most disadvantaged members of the community. The New Vic is funded by Arts Council England, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council.
About John Godber Company
The John Godber Company was established in 2011 with the purpose of allowing the playwright John Godber to continue expressing himself through the dramatic form. After having seen how the board of a theatre can destabilise a company John and his playwright/director/actor wife, Jane, decided to create their own company in order to keep control of their work.
As Artistic Director Godber had steered Hull Truck from bankruptcy in 1984 to the West End, an international reputation and finally a purpose built £15million theatre which he helped design and raise the money for, which opened in 2010. Shortly after the new theatre had opened the then Artistic Director, Gareth Tudor Price, was made redundant, and Godber, in a gesture of support to his long time friend and artistic colleague, left Hull Truck, after a relationship of twenty six years.
The John Godber Company, which has a base in East Yorkshire has a number of production outlet opportunities; often producing national tours out of Theatre Royal Wakefield, and partner-productions at Hull New Theatre and East Riding Theatre amongst others. The John Godber Company believes in putting the artist at the centre of the theatrical creative process.
You may also want to read this:
Review: The Little Mermaid at New Vic Theatre
Review: Sir Alan Ayckbourn’s Earth Angel at the New Vic Theatre
Review: The Grand Babylon Hotel at the New Vic, Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Photo Credit: New Vic Theatre
