FOR her first season, Harrogate Theatre artistic director Hannah Chissick wanted to balance three needs.

The season's opener, Yasmina Reza's Art, has headed off on a tour with a star cast of Les Dennis, Christopher Cazenove and John Duttine that will spread Harrogate Theatre's name; December's Side By Side By Sondheim will give Chissick the chance to direct a work by the American she calls her "god of the theatre"; and in the middle comes the populist choice, John Godber's classroom comedy Teechers.

"I think Teechers was the last Godber play done by the repertory company here, in 1996. It's one of his best plays, so that attracted me, and of course, it made sense to do it because we know people like it," says Hannah.

Was she tempted to update a piece written in 1987 to bring it into line with the education system that prevails now? "Many would update it but I'm doing the opposite. People often ignore this aspect of John Godber: he writes interesting political observations, and teaching is very close to his heart from his own time as a head of drama," she says.

"Teechers is very well observed for that reason, and then there's another factor to consider. The Eighties are very much in again at the moment. There's a retro Eighties looking going around, so it makes sense to keep that setting.

"In this play you have a comic moment, a serious moment, a big dance moment, then another serious moment, then back to the comedy and it's a good way to make political points that still persist."

Hannah was attracted to the teenage energy of the play. "What's beautiful about this play is that it's seen through their eyes; because it's their play it allows them to make bold statements. I remember school being funny one minute and desperate the next, and teenage turbulence is just like that. In this play, there are highs one moment, desperate darkness the next."

u Harrogate Theatre's revival of Teechers is retaining the original Eighties' setting of John Godber's comedy. So much so that during the production run, Thursday nights will be retro party nights.

The theatre has teamed up with Time Nightclub for a special Thursday deal: theatregoers can see the play then move on to the nightclub for a reduced entrance and dedicated Eighties' theme night.

Teechers, Harrogate Theatre, until November 8. Performance times are 7.30pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 8pm, Thursday; 2.30pm, Saturday. Box office: 01423 502116.

Updated: 10:04 Friday, October 24, 2003