CityLife

Phys-Ed

MORE stand-up character comedy than new drama, Phys-Ed is a wittily-written – and rather brilliantly performed – tribute to PE masters everywhere.

Neville Trellis is the twin who became the boarding school rugby coach, while his brother went on to play for his country.

Nev however is a fine figure of man, as he is only too eager to demonstrate, and he’s a fanatic about rugger, a game that’s played by real gentlemen, unlike the over-paid wussies who inhabit the soccer field.

Bro may be playing for England but Nev also has his potential moments of glory when his 12-year-olds reach the final of the Schools’ Invitation Cup.

Penned - clearly with great affection for his subject – by Simon Carter, it’s packed with close observation, some great jokes and plenty of material about heroes and the lack of them.

It’s also a one-man tour de force by Nicholas Osmond, who conjures up everything from screamingly funny scenes about bed wetting to (near) triumph at Twickenham. Terrific.

Phys-Ed is on at New Century 1 until Sunday, July 26.