Lessons from Teacher x
UK Tour –
Poole Lighthouse: 15th and 16th April
Dorchester Arts: 21st May
Taunton Brewhouse: 23rd May
Brighton Fringe: 25th-27th May
Mercury Theatre Colchester: 4th June
Eastern Angles Centre: 5th June
Garage Theatre Norwich: 6th June
Cam is a hopeless romantic, a secondary
schoolteacher falling for a handsome
stranger.
Crystal is an online model, punishing men
for money.
One has pupils, the other only fans. But
they share a shameful secret…
Lessons from Teacher is a romcom-thriller
about love, suspicion, and the warring roles
we play in adult life.
Cast and Creatives
Performer – Barbara Smith
Writer – Erin De Frias
Director and Co-Creator – Rohan Gotobed
Designer – Layla Bradbeer
Lighting Designer – Sherry Coenen
Composer and Sound Designer – Ed Lewis
Associate Producer – Sophie Janssen
Developed with support from Lighthouse, Lessons From Teacher x is the latest production from Dorsetborn and will premiere at Lighthouse on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 April.
Cam is a hopeless romantic, a secondary school teacher falling for a handsome stranger. Crystal is an online model, punishing men for money.
One has pupils, the other only fans. But they share a shameful secret…
The debut play by Erin De Frias, Lessons from Teacher x follows Cam as she embarks on a new romantic relationship, all the while harbouring a deep, serious secret – that of being an online model – which, if revealed, would ruin her life.
Erin first met director Rohan Gotobed at INK Festival in Suffolk, where the two collaborated on an earlier version of the play. Speaking about the process, she said: “Working with Rohan and Dorsetborn over the last few years has been a dream come true. It’s been a joy to develop the play into what it is today. What started as a 20-minute piece is now bursting with more energy and drama than we could have hoped for, and seeing Barbara bring it to life is absolutely amazing to watch.”
Bringing Cam, Crystal, and 13 other characters to life is former EastEnders star Barbara Smith. Famous for playing Dana Monroe across 86 episodes of the hit BBC drama – as well as roles in Call the Midwife and Casualty – Barbara is now making her professional theatre debut: “Lessons from Teacher x is the most exciting acting challenge of my career so far. I can’t wait to bring all these incredible characters to life, especially Cam. Her story is going to get people talking. I had a great time on EastEnders, and playing Dana Monroe has set me up wonderfully for this new adventure with Dorsetborn.”
Lessons from Teacher x is Dorsetborn’s latest production, following the critically acclaimed Fort, which also premiered in Dorset in 2024 before a London run early last year. It has been developed with support from Lighthouse, Forest Forge Theatre, Dorchester Arts, and INK Festival.
Dorsetborn will be touring across the UK. The dates and venues are Lighthouse (15, 16 April), Dorchester Arts (21 May), Taunton Brewhouse (23 May), Lantern Theatre, Brighton Fringe (25 -27 May), Mercury Theatre Colchester (4 June), Eastern Angles Centre, Ipswich (5 June), The Garage Theatre, Norwich (6 June). There will be free post-show events in Poole and Dorchester.
The creative team includes director Rohan Gotobed (Fort), set and costume designer Layla Bradbeer (Sophia), lighting designer Sherry Coenen (Operation Mincemeat), composer and sound designer Ed Lewis (Inside No. 9: Stage/Fright), and associate producer Sophie Janssen.
Tickets are available now at Lessons from Teacher x – Lighthouse and on 01202 280000.
(Nick Churchill, Poole Lighthouse)
Dorsetborn 