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Directing Teechers: Bringing Chaos, Comedy, and Nostalgia to the Stage

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Hi, I’m Andy, and I’m currently deep in the wonderful, chaotic process of directing Teechers by John Godber. It’s a play I’ve loved for a long time, and I’m really excited to share my take on it. For me, Teechers is a brilliantly energetic, funny, and deceptively challenging piece of theatre, and working on it with such a talented and game-for-anything cast has been a real joy.

So, here’s a little peek into how I’ve approached the show and what’s been happening behind the scenes.

Why Teechers? The Freedom to Play

What drew me to Teechers? Well, it’s always been about the freedom John Godber gives directors. The script is lean on stage direction, leaving so much space for imagination. It’s essentially three teenagers putting on a play they’ve written themselves, so right from the start, I was thinking about how to get inside their heads—what would excite them, what would make them laugh, and what kind of chaos they’d want to create on stage.

I’ve leaned into that idea by using a lot of music and pop culture references that would have been relevant to teenagers in the mid-'90s. Yep, I shifted the setting forward a decade from the play’s original '80s setting. The '90s felt like a natural fit for me since I was in my early twenties during that time, soaking up all the Britpop, Titanic fever, and Austin Powers craziness. The music we’re using spans from the 1940s to the '90s, though—school life isn’t tied to one era, after all—and it really helps build the atmosphere of the show.

Music, Chaos, and Setting the Tone

From the very first scene, I wanted to capture the chaotic energy of a school day. As soon as the main characters introduce their play, we hit the ground running with Misirlou from Pulp Fiction blasting out. It’s all about creating that feeling of rushing through corridors, dodging teachers and students, trying to make it through the madness of school life.

One of my favourite scenes to work on has been the Christmas disco. It’s a long scene, and we’ve filled it with songs that became famous for their dance moves—something I hope will get the audience laughing and reminiscing about their own awkward school dances. Nostalgia is a huge part of this production for me, and I want the audience to recognize those moments and feel that connection.

The Challenge of Making It Look Easy

While Teechers is full of laughs, it’s also deceptively tricky to get right. The biggest challenge has been making it look easy. There’s so much energy, so many fast character switches, and a lot of physicality to nail down. Thankfully, I’m working with an amazing cast—Hannah, Paul, and Grace—who are all up for the challenge. They’ve been fantastic at rolling with my constant tweaks and reblocking as we work on making everything as smooth as possible.

One of the trickiest elements has been ensuring consistency with characters that are played by multiple actors. For example, all three of them play the school bully, Oggy, at different points, so we’ve had to make sure they share mannerisms, like how he holds a cigarette. These might seem like small details, but they’re the things that can really help or hurt the audience’s suspension of disbelief, and I don’t want that one sharp-eyed audience member to be pulled out of the story by a missed cue.

Hands-On with Lighting, Sound, and Transitions

I’m the kind of director who likes to have a hand in everything, which has been especially important with Teechers. The play is so fragmented—essentially a series of skits strung together by the characters' narration—so lighting and sound have been crucial for helping the actors manage their transitions. I’ve personally chosen and edited all the sound cues, and I’m working closely with our lighting operator to create the chaotic, fluid vibe that the play needs.

For me, it’s all about making the whole show feel like one massive, choreographed scene. Every transition, every lighting shift, and every sound cue is there to help guide the actors and keep the pace flowing. It’s a challenge, but it’s a rewarding one, and I love being able to pull all those threads together into one cohesive experience.

Final Push to Opening Night

As we move closer to opening night, my focus is on making sure everything comes together smoothly—both technically and creatively. Right now, we’re smoothing out the transitions and polishing the performances so that everything feels tight and energetic. I want the audience to feel that sense of school-life chaos, to laugh along with the antics, and hopefully feel a bit nostalgic along the way.

There’s a lot of hard work behind making something like Teechers look effortless, but with the amazing team I’ve got, I know we’ll get there. I can’t wait for everyone to see it!


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