National Theatre of Scotland

A seemingly normal detention in a seemingly normal modern day comprehensive. A teacher valiantly battles on with biology revision. She believes only education will set her pupils free . . . because outside the world is in the middle of a long and bloody war.

Despite all her best efforts, too soon the tide of conflict is lapping at the school gates and, one by one, pupils and teacher are pulled under as their hopes and dreams float away from them.

But as she has taught them in her biology lesson, just like a cockroach, only the fittest will survive. She is no longer sure, however, if tenderness and humanity stand a chance.

"Please remember that 'strongest and fittest does not necessarily mean physically strong and physically fit, it means the individual best suited to the environment. We call this adaptation. A good example of this is the cockroach."