Miss Review

Miss Review

Next performances 19th & 20th August 2025

As the child of two secondary school teachers, when I saw there was a play at Camden Fringe following a day in the life of a young English teacher, I was ready to go in with a critical eye. There are so many tales of teachers that are one dimensional, only showing how they have transformed a student’s life, but failing to recognise any repercussions that the teacher themselves may face – Dead Poets Society and Matilda come to mind. 

But I needn’t have worried. Meg Coslett – writer and lead performer – captured the full picture exquisitely. I read afterwards that she has been an English teacher herself, and it all made sense. Only someone that has seen it all could create a show filled with such compassion, sharp wit, and keen observations. 

“…this is exactly the kind of show we should be seeing in 2025”

The play opens with a squeaky marker on a big sheet of paper. ‘28 days until half term’, Miss writes, immediately setting the tone of a dissatisfied teacher. This brief moment of quiet is quickly contrasted by a jam-packed dialogue filled with witty rapport between herself and the students. She is a good teacher, that much is clear, but as we get access to Miss’s inner monologue, we begin to understand the complexities and mixed feelings that come with that. This combination of dialogue and monologue meant the story was fast-paced; it romped along with such dynamism that the 60-minutes just flew by. 

As the play continued, the line between the comedic and the serious became thinner and thinner. Yet Coslett always managed to get the balance right. She was able to draw attention to the issues faced by teachers, letting the atmosphere feel heavy for just long enough to let the gravity of the situation sink in, before throwing in a one liner to lighten the mood once appropriate. It felt so necessary to see the emotional weight that Miss carried on her shoulders, and how she was grappling with her inner voice from the responsibility of being “the adult in the room”, especially at age 25.

In terms of the supporting actors, each one was unapologetic in their depictions of the different students and teachers – caricatures of types that we’ve all met before. Their presence was big and loud, and despite there only being four of them in the cast, it really did feel like we were watching a school of hundreds (which is partly down to some great direction by Phoebe Rowell John). Even if we only met some of their characters for just a few lines, it felt like we were able to understand their whole stories. The cast’s boldness helped Coslett to shine even brighter, which I felt really made the show. 

Miss is a sensational snapshot of modern day schools and, in the wake of Adolescence, this is exactly the kind of show we should be seeing in 2025. I am so pleased that Coslett has put the spotlight on a profession that is so often overlooked. And I’m not the only one that thinks so – Miss has been given some extra dates at the Camden Fringe, so I would highly recommend catching it if you can. 

Charli West

To book tickets click here
For more Green Room Reviews click here