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At the Heart of Everything
Gatehouse Theatre, London N6
3/5
Cynics sometimes say “those that can, do; those that can’t, teach.” Grosser cynics may add “those who can’t teach seek refuge and solace in running schools, colleges and other educational establishments.”
This would certainly seem to be the case in Barry Fyfield’s new play At the Heart of Everything at the Gatehouse Theatre.
Originally conceived as a satirical comedy for TV multiple episodes are shoehorned into little more than an hour and as a consequence narrative coherence is sacrificed in a roller coaster mishmash of caricature, misadventure and farce.
Following a disastrous Ofsted inspection the senior management team of Runcible College convene to draw up a rescue plan.
Catapulted into these proceedings is Nigel Pearson (Gareth Cooper) newly appointed as deputy head of faculty.
It transpires that Nigel’s boss is languishing at her majesty’s pleasure following a misplaced effort to conceal from Ofsted the least promising students by locking them up in the college basement.
A plethora of frenetic activity ensues much of it of little consequence and some of it confusing.
Nigel it seems is unknowingly responsible for exacerbating matters by cavalier use of social media. He inexplicably contrives to get out of his head on prescription drugs, loses his trousers, regains his trousers, makes an impassioned plea for blended learning and, in an unlikely Machiavellian twist, ends up as college principal.
Andrew Loudon provides brisk direction to an enthusiastic cast. Those familiar with FE college management will find resonance in the self-serving idiosyncrasies of the characters portrayed.
The satirical intent is sadly undermined by the constraints of a production that exhibits too many rough edges. There is, however, a potent message struggling to emerge which is the sad and beleaguered state of what was once a valued, vibrant and creative further education sector now compromised by the ignorance and misdirection of government policies and those who implement them.
Review by Dennis Poole
