Play name
Next Lesson
By Chris Woodley
Director and Contact Details
Allan Osborne
NextLesson2026@gmail.com
Playing dates
20th-24th May. There will be a matinee and evening performances on Saturday 23 May; Please note the performance on Sunday 24 May will commence at 18-45 (TBC).
Get-in and Strike
Get-in Sunday 17th May; Strike Monday 25th May
Venue
Bromley Little Theatre ‘In the Bar’
Audition
Sunday 11th January at 2:00pm
About the play
In 1988, 14-year-old Michael comes out as gay. Later he returns to the same school as a teacher. In the background is the notorious Section 28 of Thatcher’s Local Government Act, which prohibited schools from ‘promoting homosexuality’ and divided teachers and parents. Chris Woodley is a local writer who was educated in the Bromley area and is delighted that his play is part of the BLT 2026 programme.
‘Next Lesson is an interesting and unique look at LGBT culture, identity and public thought throughout the 80’s, 90’s, and 00’s.’ Everything Theatre
‘The first thing to say about Chris Woodley’s play Next Lesson is that it is very good. An A+, 10 out of 10, top marks, gold star and any other educational phrase that can be applied to 75 minutes of how relationships work: mother to son, teacher to pupil, friend to friend and lover to lover.’ Boyz
‘Highly entertaining… Chris Woodley’s excellent play charts the education system through those years, creating lesbian, gay and bi characters from both sides of the classroom and staff room.’ British Theatre
There are several acting opportunities in this production for Youth Theatre members.
Time
The action of the play spans from 1988 to 2003.
Location
Various locations within a secondary school
Style and Genre
Modern award -winning drama by a Bromley playwright. This play will be performed in the round with contemporary music of the time to give it a cutting, modern edge. With a strong educational and emotional current, the play combines humour, poignancy, and historical context and the naturalistic performance will bring this out.
Characters
This is a play for an ensemble of six people – 4 identifying male actors and 2 identifying female actors
For 5 actors there will be multi-rolling (actors can either act up or down –see acting ranges below). These characters are either teachers or school children or Michael’s family.
- Michael – playing age from 14-32
- Gail/Kelly/Mel/Sam – playing age from 27-40
- Val/Chloe/Jen – playing age from 13-45
- Dave/Steve – playing age 25-33
- Jacob/Simon/Tom – playing age 13-25
- Chris/Kirk – playing age 17-31
Audition pieces
Michael – Pg14-16
Gail – pg14-16
All other roles – 2 extracts
Pg 42-44 – all female parts OR Pg35-37 – all male parts