Thoughtful, inventive and laugh-out-loud, Next Lesson charts 18 years in the life of a fictional South London school. Set against the backdrop of Section 28, Thatcher’s notorious Local Government Act, which from 1988 prohibited schools from “promoting homosexuality”, 14-year-old Michael comes out as gay. Later, he returns to school as a teacher. Next Lesson is a critically acclaimed play about being gay at school, following the experiences of staff and students, where clashes of attitudes meet moments of heartbreak, hope and love.

GAIL I think you’re got it wrong. And don’t think for one single second that this idea in your head is something your father would… tolerate. You’re fourteen. Christ, you’re still a child, Michael. What would you know about– MICHAEL I was in Brighton mum. (Beat) I’ve been in Brighton. GAIL What? When? MICHAEL Last week. GAIL How? MICHAEL I caught the train. (Beat) From Bromley North– GAIL Yes I know how to get there! Christ. And what were you doing there? MICHAEL looks out of the window. GAIL Sick. (Beat) Worried sick we’ve been. MICHAEL I know how I feel mum! I’m going to tell dad tonight– GAIL Don’t you dare! (Beat) You’re not, you’re rushing. MICHAEL You don’t get it. GAIL Like you said… Sometimes you don’t always understand. But you get a feeling. But my feeling is… (MICHAEL gets up to leave.) Michael wait! If you do this… If you tell your father… It will kill him. He’ll be destroyed. Do you understand me?