Teachers - How does the character of Nixon change during the course of the play and how can this be communicated to the audience through drama?
How does the character of Nixon change during the course of the play and how can this be communicated to the audience through drama?
Introduction
The play that I am going to write about in this essay is called 'Teachers'. Teechers is fast moving, intensive and highly entertaining. Teechers vigorously evokes life at a modern comprehensive. The play is based upon thee fifth-formers who exuberantly sketch the new drama teacher's progress through two terms of recalcitrant classes, cynical colleagues and obstructive caretakers. Teechers was written by a well-known Yorkshire man called John Godber. John Godber was born is 1956, in Upton, West Yorkshire; the son and grandson of miners. John Godber trained as a teacher of drama at Bretton Hall College. John Godber started writing stories for Radio Sheffield at the age of 16. He worked as a teacher for five years, whilst doing postgraduate work in drama at the University of Leeds. Godber became the Artistic Director of the Hull Truck Theatre Company in 1984. His association with the company is an expression of his commitment to serious theatre and also to a theatre outside London. His plays are social comedies and are mostly concerned with what he has 'working class leisure activities'. Prior to Godbers appointment as Artistic Director of Hull Truck Theatre Company in 1984, he was Head of Drama at Minsthorpe High School, the school he attended as a student. Whilst he was teaching at Minsthorpe he won almost every major award at the National Student Drama Festival between 1981 and 1983. He also won five Edinburgh Fringe First awards and in 1984 won the Laurence Oliver Comedy of the Year Award for Up'nUnder. His plays are performed across the world. Bouncers was nominated for Comedy of the Year in 1985 and won seven Los Angeles Critics Circles Awards and five awards in Chicago in 1987. On the Piste (1990) was nominated for Comedy of the Year in 1993 and April in Paris (1992) was nominated Comedy of the Year in 1994.
Quotes:
Teechers: "In a class of its own ... Godber takes a hard - hitting look at life in a modern comprehensive where class conflicts, teacher tantrums and cavorting chaos runs riot through the corridors" - The Express.
"John Godber is one of the unsung hero's of British theatre, reaching the giddy heights of number three in the most - performed playwrights league table, nestled in behind Shakespeare and Ayckbourn" - Guardian.
"Godber manages with an affectionate and unerringly accurate ear for the tongues of the pit village to turn these two into a Chaucerian kind of celebration and life. At the end of the line the play is sad, bruised but richly comic love story" - Guardian.
1908's Culture and education is reflected in the play because the play was written in 1988. At this time in the 80's there were many problems with the way schools were being run, there were problems with the education system, and there were also many cultural problems such as a demand for pay rises for many jobs which could lead to hyper - inflation which brought up more problems. An example of an education problem in the 1980's was the Free Education Campaign. This begun because the catalyst for student upsurge introduced the $250 Higher Education Charge (HEAC). Because of this mass demonstrations were held, involving tens of thousands of students. Resistance was centrally involved at UQ - a meeting set up by students about the HEAC. Students won over the positions of union secretary and treasurer, and begun discussing how to use these how to build the campaign. In 1987 a boycott was developed and spread out over 12 campuses around the country. More than half of the students at UQ boycotted the HEAC. At some smaller campuses 100% refused to pay. This helped to build large - scale student involvement in the campaign. In the end the student's won and free education was once again introduced. Because of the HEAC there were many cultural problems such as families not being able to pay for further education for their children and for themselves. This also meant that fewer and fewer people were trained for many jobs, which the country relied on for the countries industrial profits. I chose the free education campaign as an example for this because the campaign does reflect education in the 1980's and what life was like in the 1980's.
I would produce the play with three actors. The play could be produced with an actor for each part in the play. It could also be produced on both a proscenium stage and on a theatre in the round stage. A proscenium stage would give the audience the view of a real life classroom and the set and props would be easier to produce. But this has its limits with lighting, movement and audience view etc. With a theatre in the round stage the audience would get the view that they were looking down at the actors. This would make the play look more realistic, but this also has limits. This stage would be practical for movement, lighting and audience view but it wouldn't be practical for props. This is because if there are to many props on the set of a theatre in the round stage, the focus from the audience onto the characters is diverted to the focus of the audience on the props. I would choose a theatre In the round stage because the audience get a better sense of realism, the audience are able to see the play from different angles, the lighting in more efficient which would give the audience a better focus on the characters which would make then play more realistic.
Nixon is the newly employed young and casual Drama Teacher at Whitewall Comprehensive. At the beginning of the play Nixon feels that teaching at Whitehall will not be easy. Nixon knows this because there are no drama facilities at Whitehall. "I knew in my interview that Whitehall had a bad reputation and no drama facilities".
Nixon also felt confident when he began teaching at Whitehall Comprehensive. We know this because he said "But like a sheriff with my brand-new degree pinned to my chest I bounded up to Mrs Parry's office". This also tells us that Nixon was also looking forward to teaching as a drama teacher and he was proud to show off his new degree. Nixon's reactions to Mrs Parry were that he thought that Mrs Parry was a huge attractive woman with no dress sense. "Mrs Parry or should I say Cordelia Parry, BA M.Ed was a huge attractive woman. She carried herself very well but had awful dress sense, and would often mix pink with yellow. She was of large frame with a voice to match".
When Nixon firsts starts talking to Mrs Parry she offers him a coffee, he accepts. When he enters her office for a coffee he sees that it is full of theatre posters. "Mrs Parry's office was a cavern of theatre posters . . . She certainly had more than a passing interest".
This tells Nixon that Mrs Parry has an interest in drama. We already know this because Mrs Parry has told Mr Basford that he can't act the part of Koko in the play. Basford says, "don't tell me that I'm not Koko . . . Great. It's bloody liberty".
Basford isn't allowed to act this part because Mrs Parry wants a younger person to play this part. That of Nixon as we will find out which leads to Mr Basford being jealous of Nixon and then there's an argument. We know that Mrs Parry wants a younger character because she says, "Mr Basford, I'm sorry . . . But there is nothing more to say . . . I need a younger person".
We also know that Mrs Parry likes drama and writing plays because as a soon as Nixon finishes talking to the audience about Mrs Parry's office full of posters she says "bare boards of passion. Wonderful".
When she says this she is referring to her all male production of The Trojan Woman. She also says "this is me as Ophelia".
The pupils see Nixon as a soft person who they can walk all over. This is shown when Nixon first enters the form room NineI.B. As soon as Nixon enters his class he sees people sat on bookshelves, on desks and playing table tennis. He asks them to sit down on chairs and come off the bookshelves. " Can you two lads come down from the bookshelves, I don't thinks they were meant for sitting on, were they? If you don't mind-just come down. And if you could stop playing table tennis that would also help. Can everybody sit on a seat and not on a desk? That's better . . . Right my name is Mr Nixon".
As soon as Nixon says this Gail and Hobby (two main characters) laugh and then the rest of the class laugh. "The entire class burst into laughter". This give Nixon the first impression that if he doesn't get his class under control by showing them who has the authority he will be walked all over by the pupils whilst he teaches a Whitewall Comprehensive. Nixon relates to the pupils in a calm and respectable manner. This is first shown when Nixon asks his class politely to sit down. "Could everybody sit on a seat and not a desk"? This soon changes though despite Nixon's good intensions, when the pupils cross Nixon's bad side. This happens when the pupils blatantly ignore Nixon and he snaps, finally saying, "Get a chair and sit on the BASTARD" . . .
Nixon changes his attitude quickly towards the pupils. We know when he has changed because his attitude turns from good to bad when the pupils ignore him. They keep on talking when Nixon says to the pupils repeatedly "get a chair", but Nixon is being ignored so he finally says to the pupils "Get a chair and sit on the BASTARD" . . .
This immediately gives us the impression that the school is a typical run down comprehensive with a bad reputation because the majority of the pupils in the classroom, which Nixon first enters, are misbehaving and ignoring him. This also gets Nixon the same impression about the school but he already knows this because he's already had his introduction with the head mistress, Mrs Parry and he says, "I knew in my interview that Whitehall had a bad reputation and no drama facilities".
This also backs up what I said about the school having a bad reputation. ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
This immediately gives us the impression that the school is a typical run down comprehensive with a bad reputation because the majority of the pupils in the classroom, which Nixon first enters, are misbehaving and ignoring him. This also gets Nixon the same impression about the school but he already knows this because he's already had his introduction with the head mistress, Mrs Parry and he says, "I knew in my interview that Whitehall had a bad reputation and no drama facilities".
This also backs up what I said about the school having a bad reputation.
If I were playing the part of Nixon at the beginning of the play, I would show his contrasting moods by using varied lighting effects and by changing Nixon's physical actions and gestures. If I used lighting effects I would change the tone of the light to suit Nixon's different contrasting moods. The lighting would show the audience that Nixon is either angry or not angry. If I was to show Nixon's physical actions I would show Nixon moving around fast and slowly to match his mood, I would show how Nixon reacts to what the different characters say, I would show how Nixon builds up his anger until he finally snaps and becomes angry and I would show Nixon's different gestures towards how he looks at the different characters and how Nixon focuses on objects whilst speaking to both the characters in and he speaks to the audience. An example of how Nixon builds up his anger and finally snaps is in Act One. Nixon finally says, "Get a chair and sit on the BASTARD" . . .
He says this because the characters in the play, Gail and Hobby are ignoring Nixon when he repeatedly asks them over and over again to get a chair. "Get a chair everyone and come and sit around the stage in a half - circle", but Gail and Hobby blatantly ignore Nixon.
If I had to direct the Nixon/Peter Saxon scene, I would I would use two different characters, one actor for Nixon and one actor for Peter Saxon, not one actor for both Nixon and Peter Saxon. This is because it easier to perform and it is more affective form the audience's perspective. It would also be easier for the audience to understand what is actually going on, on stage. During this scene Peter Saxon is introduced and described when Nixon says, "At that moment a giant of a lad Peter Saxon stood up. He must have been six feet seven, with tattoos on his arms and a line across his neck which read "Cut Here"."
If I directed this scene I would use a big, fearsome actor to play the character of Peter Saxon because the actor has to fit the character's description. In this scene Peter Saxon says that he locks his teacher in the storeroom and calls him gibbon head. "We used to call him "gibbon head", cos he had a bald head and looked like a gibbon." And "So me and Horney lock him in the storeroom."
To direct this I would show Peter Saxon looking at his teacher in the storeroom with one spotlight on Peter Saxon so that the focus of the audience is on Peter Saxon. I would also make the character Peter Saxon sound like he has a Childs mentality by changing the tone of his voice so he sounds as if he is proud of what he has done and I would make the character of Peter Saxon have a deep tone in his voice to suit his description. At the end of this scene one of the characters, 'Gail' says, "He's a liar . . ."
This is there to spoil the speech, which Peter Saxon has said, to make it sound like Peter Saxons fantasy. This brings back the reality of the drama studio their in. This is a common device used by play writers.
If I directed this I would light the room so that the drama studio props are I focus. This also reintroduces the characters Hobby, Gail and Nixon who would have been forgotten about by the audience, because the audience would have been focusing on the character Peter Saxon.
I think that Nixon sometimes speaks to the audience directly because John Godber - play writer and director of Teechers, wants the audience to understand Nixon's private and personal thoughts. In the play there are only three actors for all the different characters. Because of this there is a lot of confusion between the characters and the audience (being able to understand which actors play which characters), so to get over this Nixon communicates with the audience directly giving them his up to date thought. This is a cleaver way of helping the audience understand which characters which because it help the audience to understand which characters play which actors.
If I had to direct this scene on stage, I would use different lighting effects, one single spotlight pointing at Nixon as he faces the audience, speaking to the audience directly making sure that he doesn't make eye contact with the audience. This makes the people in the audience feel like Nixon's speaking to them all individually.
Nixon says that in the first month at Whitewall Comprehensive he was "beginning to feel fairly confident".
He feels confidant because the pupils were beginning to respond to him. They were beginning to respond to him because Nixon believed that "a teacher should have a good relationship, if he hasn't got a relation ship (referring to the pupils) he can only be a teacher, never a person".
Nixon means that he needs to have a good relationship with the pupils of Whitewall Comprehensive from the start of the play, in this case when he first becomes a teacher at Whitehall Comprehensive in order to show the pupils where he stand, to show them that he has the authority over them and then the teacher and the pupils can get to know each other properly. Because Nixon is becoming a popular teacher with the pupils at Whitewall Comprehensive he thinks that teachers should have a 'good' relationship with their pupils. Nixon likes the pupils; he thinks that they have 'raw potential' This is because of Peter Saxon. In this scene Peter Saxon says that he locks his teacher in the storeroom and calls him gibbon head. "We used to call him "gibbon head", cos he had a bald head and looked like a gibbon." And "So me and Horney lock him in the storeroom."
Nixon thinks that this is a good form of drama because Peter Saxon makes his speech sound real, but it is spoilt when Gail says, "He's a liar" . . .
Because Nixon likes the pupils, they like him. This means that Nixon's relationship between him and the pupils will have to be balanced. He will have to still show the pupil's who has the authority even though the pupils are getting to like him and he is getting to like the pupils. At the beginning of the play Nixon is ignored blatantly by the pupils of Whitewall Comprehensive, which are in his Drama Class. This happens when Nixon gives the pupils instructions to "sit on a chair", but he ignored over and over again. Nixon than lets out his anger as he shouts, "Get a chair and sit on the BASTARD" . . .
This lets the pupils in his Drama Class know that he will be kind and respectful towards them but they must do the same in return. If they don't give the same back, he will then show the pupils that he has the authority over them. His relationship with the pupils will then be able to build up.
Mr Basford believes that the relationship that a teacher should have with a pupil should only go so far. We are told this when Mr Basford says to Nixon "Nobody speaks in Mr Basford's lessons. That's why I have the best maths results in the school. Nobody talks, you can't work and talk, not even me, and I'm a genius" . . . he also says "Don't let the bastards grind you down, hit 'em low and hard . . . low and hard, kids respect discipline . . . if they don't gat it at home, they get it in my lessons . . . Hush down . . . I can hear someone breathing" . . .
If we compare Mr Basford's relationship with the pupils to Nixon's we can see straight away that Basford is a lot more strict then Nixon and we can also see that Mr Basford has worked for many years because ehe still believes in giving his pupils discipline by using violence. "Hit em low and hard . . . low and hard, kids respect discipline.
Basford and Nixon do not see eye to eye about how the pupils at Whitewall Comprehensive should be treated. Basford is also Jealous of Nixon because of his role in Mikado. It is at this point in the play that Nixon begins to feel unsettled. Nixon is unsettled after his visit to Saint Georges School because Nixon sees that Saint Georges has a drama studio and dancing facilities. This makes Nixon feel unsettled because Nixon fells that Saint Georges is a better school than Whitewall because it has better facilities. Whitewall Comprehensive didn't have this. Nixon says "it was fantastic, there was something moving about Saint Georges that made you want to teach there. Something soothing and academic, the same, I was beginning to think, could not be said for Whitewall".
Nixon is unsettled after his encounter with Doug. Doug is the typical school caretaker who likes which suits this play very well. This is because he likes to have everything done on time; he likes to have everything to be up to his standard and thinks that he is never wrong. Because of this characters personality he suits the scenes he's in during the play very well. Nixon is unsettled because Nixon feels that he does not belong in the school. This is because Doug won't let Nixon use the school hall for a bit longer for Drama after school. This is because Doug doesn't believe in drama. Doug says, "Well it's not worth bloody doing", then Doug also says "If you ask me they should take it off, the bloody timetable, I mean, they don't do any writing make as much noise as they bloody like, waste of Education Authority's bloody money if you ask me".
This makes Nixon unsettled at Whitewall Comprehensive because he sees how he the other staff thinks of him. Nixon is beginning to feel unsettled after his encounter with Basford because Basford had a debate with Nixon. Basford thinks that if the parents of the pupils are rich the pupils deserve a better education and get better education. This is because Mr Basford's kids go to Saint Georges. Mr Basford thinks that because he has money he kids deserve a better eduction. "I'm making sure my kids have the best possible education".
But Nixon thinks that all pupils should have an equal education and should be treated the same. He says, "And you can afford it. What about kids like Gail Saunders, can their parents pay for them to go to Saint Georges. No. They can't even afford to pay out for a school trip".
Mr. Basford then says, "What am I supposed to do, make my lads disadvantaged because others are".
"Parents have the right to send their kids to the school of their choice". Nixon then says to Mr Basford, "And kids have the right to a good education regardless of weather their parents have the ability or willingness to choose for them".
Nixon then calls Mr Nixon a 'Fascist' because that's how he sees Mr Basford. Both Nixon and Basford are right in what they are saying, but they don't see that. Nixon is saying that all kids have the right to an equal education no matter how rich their parents are. And Mr Basford is saying that the richer the parents the better eduction that the kids receive. In reality this is true and so is Nixon's statement. This make Nixon very unsettled. He is also unsettled after his conversation with Mr Basford because it turns out that Basford has never liked Nixon. "I knew what you were as soon as I saw you". Nixon then asks, "What are you talking about"?
Nixon then gets a reply off Mr Basford, which shows that Mr Basford doesn't like Nixon Because Nixon has got the part in the play The Mikado. "You know what I'm talking about, I'm talking about The Mikado".
This makes Nixon even more unsettled.
Act One ends with tension and anger. This is created because Gail and Hobby ask Nixon rhetorical questions over and over again. They also ask the questions one after the other. This makes it impossible for Nixon to answer the questions. This is where the tension and anger is built up. Finally Nixon snaps and says, (Shouting) "Right! Everybody, hands on heads and fingers and lips".
Nixon says this with such a powerful voice and emphasizes this to make this part of the scene really dramatic. When Nixon says, (Shouting) "Right! Everybody, hands on heads and fingers and lips".
It doesn't make sense. The pupils he's addressing wouldn't automatically put their hand on their heads and their fingers on their lips because it would look ludicrous. Nixon says this in temper without thinking. This is a good example of how John Godber has written this part of the play to show Nixon angry. Nixon is being annoyed. The fact that the drama class is being haled in the science labs also adds to the tension. This is because Nixon has to watch the pupils to make sure that they aren't doing anything they shouldn't be. This is shown when Nixon says I a nice manner " Look, come away from the gas taps".
At the end of act one Nixon is distressed, angry and mad at the pupils Gail and Hobby. This is because the tension between Nixon and the pupils Gail and Hobby is built up gradually. John Godber creates tension by varying language use. He does this by using short, snappy sentences, alliteration, and John Godber has added questions which are to be said one after the other which can't be answered even though there not rhetorical questions. This creates a lot of tension because it makes the teacher, in this case Nixon very angry and frustrated. John Godber has been very cleaver when he has done this. He starts off by adding short snappy sentences, which Gail and Hobby say. "Sir?" "Sir, she's hit me" "Sir, I haven't" "Sir, she has".
These type of sentences start to make a person very angry. Then sentences such as, "Are we doing the Marat Sade" and "Are we doing Billy Liar", are added to the text.
This shows us that Nixon has to put up with the pupils, Gail and Hobby arguing aswell as trying to listen and answer the questions he is being asked one after then other not being give time to answer. By this time Nixon is very angry and then to top it all off, Godber adds to the text, "Sir?" "Mr Nixon" "Niko?" "Jeff?" "Hey". "You". "Sir".
This makes Mr. Nixon very frustrated and adds a lot of tension. This is because all these questions are being asked on after the other not giving Nixon time to respond. Finally Nixon does respond when he snaps. (Shouting) "Right! Everybody, hand on heads, and fingers on lips".
I would show Nixon's feelings at the end of Act One by using different lighting effects to show his contrasting moods and by changing Nixon's physical actions and gestures. If I used lighting effects I would change the tone of the light to suit Nixon's different contrasting moods. The lighting would show the audience that Nixon is either angry or not angry. If I was to show Nixon's physical actions I would show Nixon moving around fast and slowly to match his mood, I would show how Nixon reacts to what the different characters say, I would show how Nixon builds up his anger until he finally snaps and becomes angry and I would show Nixon's different gestures towards how he looks at the different characters and how Nixon focuses on objects whilst speaking to both the characters in the play and he speaks to the audience. An example of how Nixon builds up his anger and finally snaps is in Act One. Nixon finally says, (Shouting) "Right! Everybody, hand on heads, and fingers on lips".
The effect that this has on the audience is that it shows them that Nixon's personality has changed. It shows them that he is not teaching by the book because in order to survive in the situation that he's in he has to cooperate with both his work colleagues and the pupils whilst showing the pupil who has the authority.
If I was directing the last scene of Act One between the characters Nixon, Gail and Hobby I would want them to show as much expression and gestures as possible. I would want Gail and Hobby to really try and Wind Nixon up as much as they can, trying to show that they are taking him for a joke because they think that he's only a drama teacher. This would make the audience think, "How is he going to respond to what they are doing to him".
I would than want Nixon to really use all his anger and show his authority by shouting at the pupils, Gail and Hobby. When he says the line "Right! Everybody, hand on heads, and fingers on lips".
I would want him to really shout at the top of his voice 'Right!' This would make both the audience and the pupil's, Gail and Hobby jump. It would also show the pupils, Gail and Hobby and the audience that he (Nixon) won't take in any more rubbish of Gail and Hobby. I would do this because this would reenact a real life class room scene showing the audience what kind of thing do happen in the modern society class rooms and it would also make the audience want to know what is going to happen next. The dramatic devices that I would employ would be lighting affects to show all of the three characters contrasting moods and I would also use different short snappy sounds to show when each character is going to react and how they are going to react. I would also use different music with different tones to match the character and the characters moods.
If I had to use music in the background for each of the characters I would use music, which would match the characters contrasting moods. E.g. Beethoven's 5th Symphony would suit Nixon because Nixon builds up his anger until he finally snaps. In the same way the orchestral tune, Beethoven's 5th Symphony builds up with music. The orchestra starts off playing with two or three instruments from one section orchestra and then more and more sections of the orchestra with more instruments join in until a deep tone is created and then the whole orchestra stops playing. This orchestral tune would also suit dark lighting effects as a low tone is created throughout the piece of music. I would use this tune because it would match the way that Act One ends with Nixon finally snapping.
The opening of Act Two sees the characters at the Christmas disco. It is here that we realize just how drastically Nixon has changed from the 'youth worker' type teacher that he was at the beginning of the play. He has well and truly adopted the Whitewall way of behaving. Oggy Moxon is the typical school bully at Whitehall Comprehensive. We know this because Mrs Parry says. "That's Oggy Moxon's patch. All the staff leave him well alone". She says this when Nixon asks why can't he go behind the sports hall. We also know that Oggy Moxon is a school bully because Gail pretend that she is Oggy Moxon and says, "I'm Oggy, I'm as hard as nails, as toe capped boots I'm hard, as marble in a church I'm hard, as concrete on your head I'm hard. As calculus I'm Hard. As learning Hebrew I'm hard, then so am I. Even Basford knows I'm rock, his cane wilts like an old sock . . . And if any teachers in the shitpot school with their degrees and bad breath lay a finger on me, God be my Judge, I'll have their hides".
This use of language by John Godber shows us what language the different characters use depending on their status at the school. In this case John Godber uses the slang style language mixed in with the Standard English for the character who plays the bully. This now shows us how the character behaves and acts. The use of similes also gives the effect of showing the audience how the character behaves and acts.
This part of Gail's speech about Oggy Moxon being hard tells us that Oggy Moxon is the school bully who likes to think that he runs the school. We know this because of the language used.
In the scene between Nixon and Oggy Moxon in Act Two, Nixon decided to give Gail a lift home in his new car, 'an A reg Escort'. Gail got into the car and Salty and Hobby decided to walk home. "Salty and Hobby decided to walk home and maybe get a Kebab".
When Gail got into Nixon's new car, Oggy decided to get in the back. "Before I knew it, into the back jumped Oggy Moxon".
Oggy then starts to be offensive towards Nixon and Gail. "Oh yeh, what's this then? Bit of slap and tinkle with the drama teacher, Gail. I though all drama teachers wallas were puffballs ". (Oggy talking to Gail).
Nixon then asks Oggy to get out of his car, but Oggy refuses. "Oggy get out".
Oggy then replies by saying "No lets go for a ride, eh . . .? Drop me down home, will you"?
The argument goes on between Oggy and Nixon until Nixon says to Oggy, "I'll go and get Mrs Parry".
Oggy then replies, "What the fuck is she going to do about it"?
At this point Nixon is very angry and there is a lot of tension. Nixon the says, "Will you get bloody out . . . "
Oggy then says, "You make me".
Now Nixon is very mad and he shouts 'Arrgh . . . '.Suddenly Gail is introduced once more in this argument and says, 'Oggy'!! Suddenly Nixon hits Oggy in the face. Screaming, Oggy pulls himself out of the car. Oggy then shouts angrily, "You've broke my nose, you bastard . . ."
Hobby is then introduced again and says, "There was blood everywhere".
This sets the scene with the audience. Hobby than says, "Oggy then staggered away from the car". "It was like a film, everyone was shouting trying to calm things down". (Referring to the staff).
Oggy then walked off into the darkness shouting "I'm gonna do you Nixon. I'm gonna do you . . ."
Because of this Nixon's attitude toward teaching at Whitehall Comprehensive will change dramatically. This scene is very mixed in terms of language. This is because the moods change rapidly with the characters and the scene. Devices are also used to create tension and make the audience want to keep watching. This is done by varying the language structure. The context of the situation is shown by the language. We know this because in parts of this scene a lot of tension is created. This is done by the use of language witch then shows the audience the milieu and circumstance that have arisen.
The author's notes written by John Godber at the beginning of the book 'Teechers' by John Godber says "Nothing is required in the way of a set except for three plastic briefcases, old newspapers for the staff-room scenes, a broom for Doug, and two open-top desks for the various other settings, all of which should be easily obtained in school. When produced by three actors, character differentiation is helped by the use of funny noses (which the kids would have bought cheaply from W. H. Smith's). Clearly when the play is produced with a larger cast a proportional increase in props is to be expected". John Godber uses this furniture because Godber wants to reenact a real life scene from a low class comprehensive school using the most basic amenities, which you would usually find in a school, without densely populating the stage with props because there are only a few actors. Godber says that in his scenes he uses "a broom for Doug, two chairs and two open-top desks that should be easily obtained in the school".
This quote from the authors note by John Godber backs up the statement that I have just said. In order to stage a car in the scene with Gail, Hobby and Nixon I would use two tables and four chairs. The two tables would represent the outline of the car and the four chairs would represent the seating in the car.This simple method is easy to put together, using the smallest amount of furniture possible and it also gives the audience a real life view of this scene.
This diagram of a proscenium arch stage with a side view of the props used to represent the car should help to explain my statement(s) above. I would use the furniture in this way because it will give the audience a realistic view of the car, using as little furniture as possible whilst showing an effective scene as real life action. I would direct the actors to move in order to show that they are in a car by telling the actors to enter the car when appropriate. E.g. 1. When Nixon says "I got into my car, an A reg Escort, and Gail jumped beside me".
I would tell Nixon to get into his car whilst he is saying that line and as the line comes to an end, i.e. when Nixon says "and Gail jumped beside me".
I would direct Gail to get into the car. E.g. 2. When Nixon says "and before I knew it, into the back jumped Oggy Moxon" . . .
As Nixon says the name 'Oggy Moxon' I would tell Oggy Moxon to jump into the back of the car slyly. This would show the audience that tension is about to start to build up between Nixon and Oggy. In this scene John Godber has used language to build up tension.
Nixon has accepted he has to be tough in order to survive at Whitewall Comprehensive. Even Hobby and Gail have recognized that Nixon has developed a violent side to his personality. When know this because Gail says to Nixon "What can you do with a brick? I saw this in a magazine . . ." Nixon then replies by saying, "Build a house . . ."
Gail then says to Nixon "Yeah and . . ."
Nixon then says "Throw It" Gail then replies and says "That shows the violent side of you. You can do unlimited things with a brick. You can drill a hole in it and wear it around your neck . . . You could marry a brick".
This part of the text reflects the statement above 'Nixon has developed a violent side to his personality'. We know this because Nixon says that you can 'Throw It', referring to the brick after he is asked by Gail "What can you do with a brick?"
We also know that Nixon has developed a violent side to his personality because Gail says, "That shows the violent side of you", but when Nixon first joined Whitewall Comprehensive as Drama teacher he didn't have a violent side to his personality, but his has now adapted to the teaching methods at Whitewall Comprehensive in order to be able to control the pupils.
Nixon has realised that Basford is throwing persistent criticisms at him. This means that Nixon attitude towards Basford has changed. Nixon doesn't speak to Basford politely anymore as he did at the beginning of the play, we can see during and throughout Act Two. An example of this is when Basford says to Nixon "Quiet. Keep them quiet. I said keep the noise down".
Nixon then replies to Basford by saying "Hang on, Mr Basford, I wouldn't do that to you".
This shows us that Nixon isn't bothered that Basford is complaining about the noise level of Nixon's class. Nixon copes with Basford's criticisms by throwing them all back at Basford. We know this when Basford says to Nixon "Enjoying themselves?" "They sound like they're trying to get out of your lesson, they can't stand it".
Nixon then replies to Basford by saying "I'm sure that there's more sixth formers screaming to get out of yours". Referring to the lesson.
What Basford says to Nixon is just one of Basford's many criticisms towards Nixon. But Nixon has realised that he ha to change and give it back to Basford otherwise he will get nowhere. He replies by throwing the criticism back to Basford but changing it round to reflect on Basford. Basford is 'Pissed off' with Nixon because Nixon got an interview at St Georges. When Mr Basford went and applied for a job at St Georges he never had his references taken up. We know this because Nixon says, "Apparently, according to Mr Dean, he applied for the Head at St George's job and had not had his references taken up . . . It had made him a bitter man . . ." Because Nixon got an interview at St Georges, more rivalry was brought between Nixon and Basford, as if they were competing against each other. Mr Basford had organized a Tennis competition. Nixon had been invited to play in the tennis competition because Mick Edwards "had a meeting with social services".
Basford was a great tennis player. We know this because Gail says, "Basford was an ace Tennis player, Jackie Prime told me he was a county player in his youth".
As the competition went on Basford was beating everyone. Then Nixon came on court and "all the kids were laughing".
This shows us that the kids at Whitewall had no respect for Nixon even though he was becoming popular amongst them. Oggy Moxon then says "Go on, Mr Basford, smash the ball through his head".
As the end of the match Nixon had beaten Basford "One Six, six love, six love". Nobody knew that Nixon was "an under nineteen tennis international". As Nixon walked form the courts he bumped into 'Oggy Moxon'. Oggy says to Nixon "Our Nobby's gonna fix you".
Referring to his older brother. Nixon then replies by saying 'Great'. This shows Oggy that Nixon has no fear of Nobby, Oggy's Older Brother. Oggy then says to Nixon "Hey . . . I thought you were a fart . . . Didn't know you could play tennis".
Nixon then says, "Neither did Basford. And tell your Nobby if he comes up here. I'll shove this down his neck".
Oggy then says Right . . . I'll tell him . . . "
We now know that the pupils think differently of Nixon at the end of the tennis Match. Oggy has realised that Nixon isn't scared of his older brother; Nobby and Oggy know knows that Nixon can also stand up to My Basford. Oggy also knows that if he gets is brother that Nixon will do the same to his brother as he to him. Oggy know thinks that Nixon isn't boring and scared of Basford. We know this when Oggy says "Hey . . . I thought you were a fart . . . Didn't know you could play tennis".
But Oggy doesn't entirely stand down to Nixon. We know this because he is still calling Nixon "a fart".
At the end of Act Two Nixon accepts the job at St Georges. This makes Nixon feel both happy and upset. This makes Nixon feel happy, we know this because Nixon says, "I was obviously very pleased".
We also know that Nixon will be upset when he leaves Whitewall
Comprehensive. We know this because Nixon says, "I'll miss the kids". T
his tells us that Nixon had got to know the kids really well and that he had got a decent relationship built up between him and the kids. At the end of the play Nixon's personality changes. He becomes more sociable with Basford and they both hold a polite conversation together.
Basford's response to Nixon leaving is that Basford is happy. This is because Basford wont be given the second best parts in the school plays and he wont have rivalry with Nixon. We know that Basford is happy because he says "Congratulations. You must be very pleased with yourself".
We also know that Basford is happy that Nixon is leaving because Basford in not now jealous that Nixon has got the job at St Georges. I think that Basford is pleasant to Nixon because Basford is glad that Nixon is leaving. At the end of the play the pupils think that Nixon is a great teacher and that the pupils know that he is needed at the school because he is the only teacher at Whitewall Comprehensive of his type. We know this because Salty says, "can I just say before we go, sir. The kids here need teachers like you. Don't go to that snob school, sir".
We also know this because Gail says, "Sir, if you stay, we'll come back and bug you. We'll let you know how were getting on. I'll come and cut your hair if you like . . . I'm doing a scheme at the hairdresser's, its twenty-five quid but my mam says it's better than nothing. Just".
Nixon's personality has changed through the play varying at times. At the beginning of the play Nixon had a more relaxed attitude and personality, but this soon changed very shortly as he learnt how to cope with the recalcitrant pupils and cynical colleagues. He approached both the pupils and staff at Whitewall Comprehensive differently to how he does as the play progresses, e.g. at the beginning of the play when Nixon first joined as a Drama teacher he takes his first class. He first introduces him self to class. "Right my name is Mr Nixon".
As soon as Nixon says this Gail and Hobby (two main characters) laugh and then the rest of the class laugh. "The entire class burst into laughter".
This give Nixon the first impression that if he doesn't get his class under control by showing them who has the authority he will be walked all over by the pupils whilst he teaches a Whitewall Comprehensive.
Nixon relates to the pupils in a calm and respectable manner, with a relaxed attitude and personality. This is first shown when Nixon asks his class politely to sit down. "Could everybody sit on a seat and not a desk"?
This soon changes though despite Nixon's good intensions, when the pupils cross Nixon's bad side. Nixon then realises that he has to change his personality. Nixon then becomes more vigilant. We also know that Nixon has changed his attitude. This happens when the pupils blatantly ignore Nixon and he snaps, finally saying, "Get a chair and sit on the BASTARD" . . .
Nixon changes his attitude quickly towards the pupils. We know when he has changed because his personality also turns from good to bad when the pupils ignore him. They keep on talking when Nixon says to the pupils repeatedly "get a chair", but Nixon is being ignored so he finally says to the pupils "Get a chair and sit on the BASTARD" . . .
During the middle of the play Nixon had a different personality. We know that Nixon is more cautious after his encounter with Doug. We know than Nixon is unsettled after his encounter with Doug because Nixon feels that he does not belong in the school. This is because Doug won't let Nixon use the school hall for a bit longer for Drama after school. This is because Doug doesn't believe in drama. Doug says, "Well it's not worth bloody doing", then Doug also says "If you ask me they should take it off, the bloody timetable, I mean, they don't do any writing make as much noise as they bloody like, waste of Education Authority's bloody money if you ask me".
This makes Nixon unsettled at Whitewall Comprehensive because he sees how he the other staff thinks of him. At the end of the play Nixon has a totally different attitude all together. Nixon doesn't care what happens anymore. We know this when Nixon has an argument with Oggy Moxon. The opening of Act Two sees the characters at the Christmas disco. It is here that we realize just how drastically Nixon has changed from the 'youth worker' type teacher with his relaxed personality that he had at the beginning of the play.
Nixon has now well and truly adopted the Whitewall way of behaving. Oggy Moxon is the typical school bully at Whitehall Comprehensive. Oggy gets into Nixon car and then starts to be offensive towards Nixon and Gail. "Oh yeh, what's this then? Bit of slap and tinkle with the drama teacher, Gail. I though all drama teachers wallas were puffballs ". (Oggy talking to Gail). Nixon then asks Oggy to get out of his car, but Oggy refuses. "Oggy get out" "No lets go for a ride, eh . . .? Drop me down home, will you"?
The argument goes on between Oggy and Nixon until Nixon says to Oggy, "I'll go and get Mrs Parry".
Oggy then replies, "What the fuck is she going to do about it"?
At this point Nixon is very angry and there is a lot of tension. Nixon then says, "Will you get bloody out . . .
Oggy then says, "You make me"
Now Nixon is very mad and he shouts "Arrgh" . . .
This shows how Nixon personality has changed rapidly throughout the play.
I think that 'Teechers' is relevant to audiences in 2002 because the same problems that have occurred throughout this play occur in many low class comprehensive schools, which receive very little funding across the country. I think that this play is relevant because Teechers vigorously evokes life at a modern comprehensive school. The three main pupils in the play, Gail, Hobby and Salty who are all fifth formers exuberantly follow Nixon's life as he works at Whitewall comprehensive until he leaves, disillusioned, for the private school, St Georges. I also think that Teechers is relevant to audiences in 2002 because the play shows the whole array of emotions that you get in most low class comprehensive schools, climaxing with the last scene in the play when the pupils' despair emerges form beneath their youthful irreverence, giving this play a poignant and emotional ending. 'Teechers' also looks at the pupils youthful irreverence change, showing their whole array emotions turn into cynical behavior.
