A Promise of Valuable Time
Kate Ireland has a clear message for her audience: the 60 minutes they devote to her will be time well spent. Her performance draws inspiration from the cherished “golden time” allocated on Friday afternoons to well-behaved schoolchildren—a nostalgic nod to a reward for good behavior throughout the week.
Setting the Stage: A Fusion of Club and Classroom
As attendees settle into their seats, pulsating dance music sets an energetic tone, reminiscent of both a nightclub and a classroom. The ambiance is crafted by Giulia Grillo, whose production transforms into a session led by a beloved educator. Ireland invites the audience to recall their own memories of such rewarding Fridays, no hand-raising required. A makeshift blackboard serves multiple purposes, displaying projections and creative captions—a still uncommon sight at fringe shows. Ireland shares a brief history of the “better behaviour through golden time” concept, developed by educational consultant Jenny Mosley, recounting her own experiences of being excluded from this reward, condemned to watch from the sidelines.
Revisiting the Classroom as an Adult
When Ireland steps back into a primary school environment as a teaching assistant, she connects deeply with a neurodivergent student who is precariously positioned at “amber” in the classroom’s traffic-light system for earning golden time. Over a week, Ireland portrays how the restrictive and draining nature of the school system affects her just as it did during her own childhood. Her relationship with the young student provides mutual support, helping them both navigate the school days.
The narrative is enriched with evocative imagery: students raising their hands rhythmically “like windscreen wipers,” a young girl’s knee scraped and marked like a teacher’s correction in red, and a child’s drawing of a time-loop when asked about their future. These visuals culminate in a potent burst of performance poetry that, although slightly on-the-nose, effectively ties together the central themes of the show. Ireland skillfully critiques the pervasive “one-size-fits-all” mentality, highlighting the relentless push for productivity, rankings, and targets that pervade not just schools, but society at large.
A Memorable Departure
While the show occasionally feels more like a workshop, an additional serving of Ireland’s engaging poetry would enrich the experience. The performance concludes on a high note, with an activity that prompts audience members to reminisce about their own moments of unbridled joy—dancing with siblings, playing football, or chatting with pet guinea pigs. These shared memories transform the room into a space of collective nostalgia and liberation, a true reflection of golden times brought to life by a radiant performer.
- Showing at Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh, until 25 August
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Fatima Clarke is a seasoned health reporter who bridges medical science with human stories. She writes with compassion, precision, and a drive to inform.
