THE SUBSTITUTE

Making fun of a hapless character can be questionable, but when done with empathy and respect, can inspire us to think before we point at someone and say something derogatory. And, of course, it doesn’t matter that we laugh until we cry along the way.

The performance is full of physical comedy that everyone understands, but also has a hint of rebellion against rigid pedagogy and a lack of imagination in the educational system.

Plot:

Late one morning, Clas Göran is squatting in front of the letterbox at his grandmother’s house, waiting for the mail. What is that little letter hidden between all the bills? It turns out to be from the school: Clas Göran has been given the job of substitute teacher and he starts tomorrow.

But wait a minute. It says that he is to teach the subjects of CRPE (Christianity, Religion, Philosophies of life and Ethics), Norwegian, mathematics, gym, science, music and history.

Clas Göran is scared stiff, but immediately starts preparing. His grandmother’s living room is the classroom and all the stuffed animals are the students as he tries to crucify himself, make fruit salad in an attempt to teach math using fruit – and do circuit training on granny’s furniture.