On a scale of A-Z, "O is for Ofsted" would be a clever remark but a bit unfair on the cast.
This is quite a short show covering a potentially failing school awaiting the dreaded Inspectors.
As someone with experience of awaiting inspectors, the teacher’s reaction covered most of the spectrum even if there is a little typecasting in the staffroom.
The harassed Head Teacher (Lottie Wilson) was well played as the realist and anticipated her teacher’s shortcomings in the eyes of Ofsted. The idea of using the same actors as staff and pupils worked reasonably well and provided an opportunity for the cast to show their versatility.
The music was fine, with some clever lyrics but there seemed something familiar about one song and a number from Mary Poppins where Mr Banks has a solo came to mind.
Jen Boxell played the forever idealist Deputy - probably every school has one. The nervous Miss Potts (Martha Parkinson) looked every inch the newcomer and Lucy Down plays the food-obsessive who flirts well with the science teacher (Dan Wilde).
The other teachers include a failed actor, an art teacher that can’t draw and a maths teacher who can’t teach fractions.
The pupils are like pupils anywhere, but hardly Waterloo Road.
The show played to a full house so it seems popular with all ages but a young person leaving the theatre gave it an OK rating and that was fair comment.
Runs to 16 August, 16:35.
Tickets £6.50-£8.50