In a London secondary school, a student brings a knife onto the premises. It sets up a clash between a young teacher and the head of the school, who wants the student made an example of and excluded. But that would ruin his life. Is there another way, or is the system too rigid and unyielding, and what will parents say if he is not excluded? It’s not as if the school is rising in the rankings anyway. The Upsetters is a new company dedicated to creating opportunities for artists from under-represented backgrounds, and this first full-length play written by Tony Craze Award short-listed playwright Daniel Rusteau considers the sausage factory of education and the racism and classicism that many experience as they pass through the system.
When she reports her favourite student brought a hunting knife onto school premises, she’s stunned by the sudden reaction of a bureaucratic head-teacher. Ashley is determined to save him from expulsion but quickly finds herself fighting a problematic system, apprehensive colleagues, and intimidating and unforgiving parents. Tony Craze Award shortlisted playwright Daniel Rusteau’s debut play Dismissed is a grounded and propulsive, witty but hard-hitting drama that shines a light on class and racism in the state education system and raises questions about masculinity, punishment and parenting of young Black men. There will be post-show events taking place after each Saturday matinee performance. Age Recommendation: 16+