Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby
Encyclopedia
Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby is a satirical
New Zealand
television series, created and written by Danny Mulheron
(who also directs and co-produces), Dave Armstrong and Tom Scott
. It stars David McPhail
as the titular Mr Gormsby, whose politically incorrect
attitudes and "old school" teaching style clash and contrast with the environment at the fictional Tepapawai High School. The show pokes fun at the New Zealand education system
but also at modern New Zealand social attitudes more generally.
Two seasons have so far been made; the first was broadcast in 2005 on TV ONE in New Zealand and the ABC TV
in Australia. The second series was shown in New Zealand in 2006 and in Australia, on ABC2
, April 2008. DVDs of the series are sold in Australia through the ABC Shop
.
The program was filmed at two disused schools in the suburbs of Lower Hutt
: the first season at Wainuiomata
College and the second at Petone
College.
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
television series, created and written by Danny Mulheron
Danny Mulheron
Danny Mulheron is a New Zealand actor, writer, and director who has worked in theatre, television and film.In 2008 he released "The Third Richard" a feature length documentary where he tells the story of his Grandfather, a Jewish German composer whose music was banned by the Nazis, rejected in New...
(who also directs and co-produces), Dave Armstrong and Tom Scott
Tom Scott (cartoonist)
Tom Scott is a New Zealand cartoonist, and is regarded by some as one of the best New Zealand cartoonists since the 1970s.Scott has been the regular cartoonist, initially for the New Zealand Listener magazine and then for the Evening Post newspaper and its successor the Dominion Post, for most of...
. It stars David McPhail
David McPhail
David Alexander McPhail, ONZM, QSM is a New Zealand comedic actor and writer. He is most famous for the political satire show McPhail and Gadsby in which he co-starred with Jon Gadsby....
as the titular Mr Gormsby, whose politically incorrect
Political correctness
Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,...
attitudes and "old school" teaching style clash and contrast with the environment at the fictional Tepapawai High School. The show pokes fun at the New Zealand education system
Education in New Zealand
Education in New Zealand follows the three-tier model which includes primary schools, followed by secondary schools and tertiary education at universities and/or polytechs....
but also at modern New Zealand social attitudes more generally.
Two seasons have so far been made; the first was broadcast in 2005 on TV ONE in New Zealand and the ABC TV
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
in Australia. The second series was shown in New Zealand in 2006 and in Australia, on ABC2
ABC2
ABC2 is a national public television channel in Australia. Launched on 7 March 2005, it is the responsibility of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's television division, and is available nationally to digital television viewers in Australia...
, April 2008. DVDs of the series are sold in Australia through the ABC Shop
ABC Commercial
ABC Commercial is the commercial arm of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It is responsible for making a profit through the creation, marketing and retailing of ABC products and services worldwide.-History:...
.
The program was filmed at two disused schools in the suburbs of Lower Hutt
Lower Hutt
Lower Hutt is a city in the Wellington region of New Zealand. Its council has adopted the name Hutt City Council, but neither the New Zealand Geographic Board nor the Local Government Act recognise the name Hutt City. This alternative name can lead to confusion, as there are two cities in the...
: the first season at Wainuiomata
Wainuiomata
Wainuiomata is a suburban town located within the city limits of Lower Hutt - and part of the greater Wellington urban area - in the lower North Island of New Zealand...
College and the second at Petone
Petone
Petone is a major suburb of the city of Lower Hutt in New Zealand. It is located at the southern end of the narrow triangular plain of the Hutt River, on the northern shore of Wellington Harbour...
College.
Characters
- Mortimer Ellis Gormsby (David McPhailDavid McPhailDavid Alexander McPhail, ONZM, QSM is a New Zealand comedic actor and writer. He is most famous for the political satire show McPhail and Gadsby in which he co-starred with Jon Gadsby....
) - Relief Teacher - Roger Dascent (Paul McLaughlinPaul McLaughlin (New Zealand actor)Paul McLaughlin is a New Zealand actor who won the Cloud 9 award for actor of the year in 2004. He works out of Wellington, New Zealand, where he lives with his wife—singer, foley-artist and actress, Carrie McLaughlin. His stage credits include The Love of Humankind, The Bach, Drawer of Knoves,...
) - The principal of Tepapawai Boys High School - Steve Mudgeway (Jason HoyteJason Hoyte-Television Roles:*Young Hercules: Hephaestus*Hercules: The Legendary Journeys: Hephaestus*Xena: Warrior Princess: Hephaestus, Timus*Outrageous Fortune: Franklin "Corky" Corke*Seven Periods with Mr...
) - The school counsellor - Fenn Partington (Tandi WrightTandi WrightTandi Wright is a South Africa-born, New Zealand-raised television and film actress. From 1996-1999 she appeared as Nurse Caroline Buxton in Shortland Street...
) - English Teacher - Lauren (Michelle Amas) - Secretary
- Alisdair Morton (Thomas RobinsThomas RobinsThomas Robins is a New Zealand actor who was the original host of Squirt, a children's television series. He has also played roles in two films directed by Peter Jackson.- Filmography :* Forgotten Silver - Colin McKenzie...
) - Economics teacher - Hone Hakanui (Louis Sutherland) - Māori studies teacher
- Werner Hundertwaser (Nigel Collins) - Head of Music
- Marion Patterson (Geraldine Brophy) - The Education Review Office school inspector
- Rak (Charles Lum) - School cleaner
- Agnes Maria Teresa O'Flaherty - (Dena KennedyDena KennedyDena Kennedy is a New Zealand born actress. She has appeared in New Zealand television series Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby and in numerous theatre productions...
) Social Studies/History teacher - Lesley Tangaroa (Grace Hoet)- PE teacher
Class 5F
- Emile Bastabus (Joseph Moore)
- Elvis Hohepa (R.J. Smiler)
- Afioga (Feterika Sage)
- Ama'ata'a Uleiata'aua Alupepe (Halaifonua Finau)
- Govind (Hursh Saha)
- Minh (Samson Phommachack)
- Gareth le Tissier (Lyndon McGaughran)
Series One
- The Appalling Mr Gormsby
- Comrade Gormsby
- Human Relationships
- Open Day
- The Retarded Boy
- Coon Tunes
- The ERONew Zealand Education Review OfficeThe Education Review Office or ERO is a relatively small state sector organisation of New Zealand tasked with reviewing and reporting publicly on the quality of education in all New Zealand schools...
Parade
Series Two
- Heads Will Roll
- Crime And Punishment
- The Slave Trade
- Dancing With The Staff
- Camp Tepapawai
- An Inspector Calls
- For Whom The Bell Tolls