Bad Teacher is a one woman show that comedically takes the audience through a day in the life of ‘Bad Teacher` Evie. The story goes through key checkpoints in the teacher’s day whilst switching back and forth between hilarious cutaways, whether it be on the London underground or under the water getting hunted by jaws-esque vagina! The story takes a modern truthful insider look, into a millennial teacher’s life, showing the fantastic heartfelt moments and epic highs as well as the gut-wrenching lows. The show acts as a hilarious reminder that teachers are entirely human, which is an often-forgotten fact by parents, governments, and students themselves
Erin Holland was a delightful show-woman as the ‘Bad Teacher’ she was hilarious from start to finish, her comedic timing was on point, her physicality and infectious energy really drove the show home. The writing of the piece itself was so eloquent, the perfectly timed cutaways, and the magnificent journey that the audience was taken on made sure that the play was anything but one note. Even though the show was performed by one actor, it was not short of unique and interesting characters like Brendan the straight-talking northern Irish head of staff, or the godfather-inspired principal teacher. Holland brought these diverse characters to life through wonderful accents and fantastic physical comedy.
Setting-wise the audience felt as if they were in a classroom throughout, the seats faces a stage adorned with a Flipboard and various other classroom tchotchkes. Sound and lighting was intelligently used to change the scene in an instant, one moment you could be in a classroom the next moment you were in a war zone. The surrealist aspect of these cutaway scenes made for a hilarious look into the mind a young teacher just trying to find her way.
Grace O’keefe directed this piece perfectly, she used everything she possibly could to turn a small stage into a full-scale production. The message that she and Holland portrayed in the show was one of unapologetic self-love, Big Pussy Energy and kindness to ourselves during trying times and tragedy. We are all human at the end of the imperfect and flawed, teachers should not be bullied into thinking that they must be perfect, all they need to do is care.
Although the show is called ‘Bad Teacher’ they are anything but, teachers like the one in this production represent the type of teachers that make the most positive mark on pupils’ lives. Bad teacher is a fantastic addition to the Fringe this year, don’t deprive yourself of its hilarity, go see it!
Catch it at venue 302, Underbelly Bristo Square- Daisy from the 18th to 29th of August.
Theatre Scotland 
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