Moving from satiric comedy to poignant family drama, Little Platoons explores what the retreat of the state and the growth of people power really means for society and its youngest citizens. When Rachel's ex threatens to remove their son from London to sort out his education, she joins a local group of parents setting up a 'free school'. Her new friends, led by the charismatic Nick, want to create an education their children can enjoy not endure. But the vision of the Big Society they seek to create tears their lives apart.  Steve Waters' play Little Platoons was first staged at the Bush Theatre, London, in 2011. 'Wittily exposes the confusion that surrounds the subject of how we best educate our children' Guardian'An engrossing state-of-the-nation play about a contemporary issue that is unlikely to go away' Arts Desk'Anatomises the urgency of education policies in the coalition government... I can't recall a more urgently satirical local play at this address in all the wonderful 38 years of its existence' Whatsonstage.com