Our Day Out
Our Day Out is about a bunch of underprivileged remedial school kids, the so-called “Progress Class”, who go on a school treat to Hastings, causing havoc for their teachers, liberalist Mrs. Kay and authoritarian Mr. Briggs. Along the way the children boisterously rampage through a roadside café, a zoo, a beach and a funfair. Through this contact with the kids, and particularly with the vulnerable and oppressed Carol, Mr. Briggs briefly rediscovers his humanity.
The DODS Juniors section chose to bring this ambitious show to the new performance facilities at Kingshill House in Dursley because of its energy, music and humour. Basically the play is about kids behaving badly and then singing about it, except that they are not really "bad", just misunderstood. Their energy is apparent in numbers like "We're Off" and "Blackwall Tunnel", which they carried off splendidly. The teachers get to sing a bit too, with the funniest songs going to the authoritarian Mr Briggs, whose song "Straight Line" was a wonderful parody of what we hope are "old" ideas about teaching kids! Touching songs were there too with Linda's "I'm in Love with Sir" and, mostly especially, Carol's "Why Can't It Always Be This Way?"
The show was a roaring success, judging from the sold-out shows (all of them) and the enthusiastic response from audiences and critics alike.
What will these talented young folks do next?