English Theater Madrid: A Little Learning

Brit Matt Randle has written and directed a comedy about being an English teacher in Madrid. “A Little Learning” is going up this weekend and next in the La Madrilera theater in Malasaña. Randle, himself an English teacher, has recreated the particular pressures as well as the humor of teaching English in Madrid using a cast primarily of native speakers, but also some Spaniards as well as others. It’s absolutely suitable to a native-English speaking audience. Harry and Hannah, both teachers, are friends and they try to negotiate the foreign terrain in both work and romance. Harry even ends up on an Aprende Inglés-type television show but then also unfortunately ends up in jail on the night of his 30^th birthday due to an incident he caused on the show. Hannah has panic attacks about where her professional/romantic life is going, and also panic attacks about how to answer questions about grammar. So yes, there are grammar books hidden under the teacher’s table, embarrassing intercambios, a sleazy, overconfident English teacher/foil, failed attempts to flirt across the language barrier and other things that I think have yet to be depicted on a Spanish stage. The show runs May 21st, 22nd, 28th and 29th at 21:30 p.m. Tickets are 4 euros.

La Madrilera
C/ Don Felipe, 9
Metro: Tribunal.
E-mail: (alittlelearning@hotmail.co.uk)

By Alexandra Atiya