MOGADISHU Lyric, Hammersmith

One thing is absolutely certain and that is no government authority will be using this disturbing, depressing and totally riveting play in their drive to recruit new teachers. A good and popular white teacher is falsely accused of assault and racist abuse by a black boy. His blatant lies are backed up by his mates. The local authority, the social services and the police are all brought in. The result is the teacher is suspended and the decent pupils in the school lose out. Vivienne Franzman knows what she is talking about; she taught in a comprehensive for 12 years. Matthew Dunster’s production, set within a wire cage, and the cast is headed by Julia Ford as the liberal teacher, Ian Bartholomew as the weak headmaster. and Malachi Kirby as the lying bully.