John Donnelly’s searing new play The Knowledge examines what happens when a young teacher goes off the rails in a failing school. Shocking, revealing and darkly funny, the writer draws on his own experience working in schools.

Being a teacher means weekends. It means thirteen weeks holiday. It means a secure job in uncertain times. But Zoe doesn’t want to have to rescue her students. She doesn’t want to be called a slag. She doesn’t want to sleep with the Head of Science and she doesn’t want to teach a group of kids how to do life… because that is something Zoe’s not sure she knows how to do herself.

Donnelly has worked in various primary and secondary schools across London, Essex and Kent, including programmes aimed at curriculum development, Irish and Romany Travellers, enterprise, literacy, sex education, addictions, student voice. In addition to The Knowledge, his plays include Bone (Royal Court), Poll Tax Riots (Hampstead theatre) and Songs Of Grace and Redemption (Theatre 503).

The Knowledge plays alongside Little Platoons as part of The School Season at the Bush theatre.

For more about The Knowledge at the Bush theatre read the First Night Feature or The Feature: The Schools Season at the Bush theatre.