Community is proud to be supporting the critically-acclaimed Mode Theatre company at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.
Mode Theatre’s latest comedy ‘The Academy Trust: Under New Management’ takes a humorous look at the challenges facing teachers in academy chains. Written and performed by real teachers, the show casts a satirical glance at the absurdities of school life, from bureaucratic nightmares to ever-looming Ofsted inspections.
The actors in the show – Dean Osgood, Molly Sedgwick and Fran Knight – are Community members and sit on our Education Sector Committee.
Speaking ahead of the run of performances in Edinburgh, Dean Osgood said:
“I’m passionate about raising the voices of educators. Writing this play is our way of shining a light on the real issues schools and teachers face every day. Through comedy, we highlight the serious challenges in education that too often go unheard.”
Molly Sedgwick said:
“I’m genuinely humbled by the number of teachers, support staff, and educators who connect with our show. Even though we exaggerate for comedic effect, so many tell us how true-to-life it feels. Our play isn’t just about laughs—it’s about sparking important conversations. We’re incredibly proud to be supported by Community, who help us educate our audiences on their rights and ensure we provide accurate context for the issues we tackle on stage.”
Fran Knight said:
“What I love most about this show is how it opens up dialogue around workload and mental health. While we use comedy to explore these themes, it’s striking to see how deeply it resonates with our audiences. It’s a powerful reminder of the impact these issues have on so many lives.”
‘The Academy Trust: Under New Management’ runs at Venue 53, theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, Grand Theatre at 13:20 from August 19th-24th.
Don’t miss your chance to see this fresh and funny take on the world of education!
Fans of Mode Theatre can also pick up a readable copy of last year’s sold-out show, ‘The Academy Trust’, featuring a foreword by Community General Secretary Roy Rickhuss, here.
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