OFSTED! The Musical.

Written and Directed by David Byrne.

Composed and Musically Directed by Janet Overfield.

Original Cast:

Rosie Allen, Jenny Squire, Jessica Payne, Leah Milner, Cara Stacey, Becky Drake, Sarah Griffiths, Hannah Crosby, Nicola Roberts, Tori McCall, Lewis Hurt and Jenny Rick.

Synopsis and Plot.

Red is an ambitious young politician and when she has to announce the first 48 hour notice OFSTED inspection she spies a publicity opportunity.

Armed with a team of crack inspectors she arrives at Wimpole Street School to find Ms. Higgins, an outed headmistress getting on in years and a staff that appear to have lost grip on reality.

The inspectors, not used to seeing schools that haven't preened and prepared themselves in advance, are shocked with their findings. After a bombshell of a school play, the modernising politican and the old school headmistress begin a fight against each other that only one of them can win.

Reviews.

WINNER! Writers' Guild Award for Drama 2004

WINNER! List Magazine Award for Fringe Drama 2004

WINNER! Venue 45 Ticket Sale Record (Total sell out run) 2004

"Teachers Flock to see evil inspectors as OFSTED! The Musical sells out"

* * * * * FIVE STARS, The Times Ed.

"Witty, relevant, well-acted, imaginative and contained songs that were all of the above too...deserves a first class honours degree right now!"

* * * * * FIVE STARS, Ranting Teacher Review.

"Hilarious...Rush to catch the sharp satire of this production."

* * * * FOUR STARS, The Scotsman.

" Genius Song Lyrics and Great Performances."

* * * * FOUR STARS, Three Weeks.

"Ofsted the Musical! epitomised an Edinburgh success, selling out from the first show to the last and receiving critical acclaim."

BBC News

History and Background.

OFSTED! The Musical was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2004 and enjoyed a total sell out run. It also won the awards from the Writers' Guild and The List Magazine from Drama.

After we returned from the Fringe the show was made into a half an hour documentary and was broadcast on the obscure, but loveable, Teachers' TV and gained the highest ratings of their launch night schedule.

Media.

If you missed the show at the Fringe - fear not! Although most of the cast have now been deported, making a restaging almost impossible, you can watch some clips from the documentary. Click below to see Clarissa being Mentored and click here to see what some teachers and the Head of OFSTED thought of the productions.