A light-hearted examination on UK’s education system eventually falls down as a TED Talk
Written and performed by Ed Oulton, Barrier to Entry attempts to explore and examine the failures of the UK education system through the story of Connor, a young lad from Liverpool who fails his GCSE Maths several times.
Of course, we know there are a myriad of problems in the system which seem all unfixable, and some are not even discussable. However, Barrier to Entry seems not to have done proper research, which makes the show become merely an (anti)hero rebellion against the school itself.
The first 70 to 80 minutes of the show are enjoyable, though. Oulton starts as a bit shy but soon showcases his talent as a comedian and an impersonator, mimicking a variety of different characters including “John Lennon” – a gloomy school teacher. Its ambiance is quite like TV sitcoms from some 20 years ago, a mixture of Little Britain and The Catherine Tate Show.
Connor’s graffiti rebellion and the school management’s labelling of the act as “vandalism” and “crime” feel all too familiar. There is even a scene where students unite against the school’s security guard, reminding me of current campus tensions in the US. But these scenes quickly fade away with no further exploration, leaving little room for the audience to ponder or feel.
The last ten minutes drag on excruciatingly, undoing what has been built up and lifted earlier. Connor’s artistic talent, recognised by a friend of “John Lennon” at the Royal College of Art in London, could secure him an offer at RCA once he passes his GCSE.
The system – he criticises throughout the show – suddenly works. This light-hearted and rebellious journey devolves into a dull and dreadful TED talk preaching on self-advancement and leaning-in. The twist continues, as Connor fails as a mediocre artist. So he returns to Liverpool for community work. At this point, I have completely lost interest in Connor’s fate. It’s simply unbearable.
There’s almost no directorial touch – moving chair around does not really count – and the straightforward projections of Connor’s words feel more like a classroom teaching aid than an artistic expression. Furthermore, the random light changing, intended to represent Connor’s differing mindsets, fail to make any meaningful distinction and offer no real help to the show.