Little Platoons

Synopsis

To love the little platoon that we belong to is the first link in the series from which we proceed towards a love of our country and mankind Edmund Burke. A group of West London parents are driven by desperation to take the new government up on their offer and start their own ‘free school'. They want to create an education that their children will enjoy rather than endure. But as they find their lives given over to a disturbing version of the Big Society, their fervour turns to panic.

Our Review:

Michael Coveney - 25 January 2011

If there’s a better, more pertinent, more overdue play this year than Little Platoons by Steve Waters at the Bush, then I’ll eat my fedora. (I don’t actually have a fedora, but for this bet, I’ll buy one, or at least a flat cap, and a few racing pigeons.)

It’s the second part of the Bush’s “schools season” and anatomises the urgency of education policies in the coalition government, specifically in relation to the appalling “free school” initiative approved by yes-yes-minister Michael Gove, texting buddy of Toby Young, who is setting up just such an enterprise on the Bush Theatre’s doorstep (and writing a response to this play, soon to be presented).

I can’t recall a more urgently satirical local play at this address in all the wonderful 38 years of its existence. It’s also a witty paradigm of subsidised theatre in its subject matter: a middle-class initiative born of self-interested motives using public money. Perfect.

Rachel (Claire Price) is teaching at ...

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Latest User Review

rds. - 5 February 2011:

Forget the first review here as it relates to another show entirely and which closed around a year ago?! This, however, was stunningly acted, by a terrific ensemble, lead by Claire Price and what an actress she is - I predict a bright future for her. Unfortunately, the performance was interrupted by an audience member fainting, but to his credit he kindly hung on to within minutes of the close of act one (I'm pleased to report he seemed well enough after help from a doctor in the audience and the good ol' NHS ambulance service). Act two followed only slightly later than planned and was worth the waiting for. This is a well structured piece by a writer, Steve Waters, who knows his stuff and by a director, Nathan Curry, who knows how to deliver the goods. The Bush have another hit on their hands. It isn't essential but, in my opinion, try to see KNOWLEDGE first then LITTLE PLATOONS. 10/10 ...

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