One of last year’s finest debuts, Georgia Oakley’s riveting drama follows a young teacher balancing work life with her sexuality as Thatcher’s draconian Clause 28 comes into effect.
Jean is a PE teacher living in the north-east of England, at a time when the Conservative government fostered renewed aggression against queer people. Despite carving a vibrant social life for herself, Jean is closeted at work and must temper her identity in the face of growing hostility. But this is compromised when Lois appears in her class. Awkward, troubled and bullied by the duplicitous Siobhan, Lois’s vulnerability shines a dangerous light on Jean’s own – not least when she shows up at a bar one night. Here, Oakley’s narrative transforms into a subtle portrayal of how power, fear and vulnerability can distort the truth and imperil the deepest part of ourselves.