Context of Gotcha

The context of Gotcha is the school system was just changing from grammar schools to comprehensive schools. Meaning comprehensive schools were seen as bad schools as anyone could get in. 
Margaret Thatcher was prime minister which many people didn't like. however she did help with the comprehensive school changeover. 
There are a few hints in the opening scene of Gotcha which suggest the time period it was set in as well as the context behind it. For example the mention of America invading China and the McCarthy era. The Kid also mentions being Working Class which again show the context as in the seventies the class system was more defined than it is now. 

The differences between the context of Gotcha and my own context are that teachers hitting students was quite common then, however now it is seen as something that is completely unacceptable. Comprehensive schools are also more accepted and are no loner seen as bad schools. There is also a difference in the class system, there is still a divide between classes but it is less prominent and it no longer defines you or says what you can and can't do. The school system seems to be more fair in this respect. 

It is useful to know the context of the play because it means you can understand more what the characters are going through, particularly in Gotcha which contains many social and political view such as how you can easily be ignored if you aren't one of the smartest or most athletic students. I found knowing about the school system helped me understand why the Kid is so angry because he is always ignored, this helped me as an actor to play him more accurately. As a director knowing the context helped me because it determined how I wanted the Kid to be played as it made me feel that he is more of a victim.