short, old-fashioned news videos shown in cinemas before TV was common and made by the film company Pathé

officially removed or cut off from a church or group

a clear difference between two things that should match

shared by a group of people or used together

Rufus Norris introduces and discusses 'Small Island' Act 1 scene 1

British English CC

Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 1 Scene 1 with director Rufus Norris

English

An introduction to the play 'Small Island'

Helen Edmundson on adapting 'Small Island' for the stage

'Small Island': from page to stage

'Small Island': reading the start of Act 1 Scene 1

'Small Island': exploring the theme of power through Little Hortense

'Small Island': tracking the events of Act 1 Scene 1

'Small Island': the significance of the hurricane

'Small Island': reading Act 1 Scene 2

Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 1 Scene 2 with director Rufus Norris

'Small Island': reading the beginning of Act 1 Scene 3

'Small Island': reading the end of Act 1 Scene 3

Watching 'Small Island' Act 1 Scene 3 with Rufus Norris and Helen Edmundson

'Small Island': reading Act 1, Scenes 4-6

'Small Island': reading Act 1, Scenes 7 and 8

Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 1 Scenes 4-8 with Rufus Norris

'Small Island': exploring Act 1 through the context of Windrush

Exploring and evaluating the importance of Act 1

'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scene 1

Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 2 Scene 1 with Helen Edmundson

'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scenes 2 to 4

'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scenes 5 to 6

Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 2 Scenes 2 to 6 with Rufus Norris

'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scenes 7 and 8

'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scenes 9 to 11

Watching 'Small Island' Act 2 Scenes 7-11 with Rufus Norris and Helen Edmundson

Rufus Norris on directing and adapting 'Small Island'

Tracking characters and tension in 'Small Island'

Helen Edmundson on the context, characters and themes of 'Small Island'

Understanding questions and writing thesis statements on ‘Small Island’

'Small Island': creating topic sentences and using quotes in essays

Essay writing: using context in responses to ‘Small Island’

Introductions and conclusions in a 'Small Island' essay

Planning and writing a 'Small Island' essay

Refining and improving an essay on 'Small Island'

In 'Small Island', pupils explore the ways in which transferring Levy's novel onto the stage enables both the playwright and the director to powerfully evoke its ideas about race, identity and belonging. In 'Leave Taking', pupils build on their learning about the Windrush Generation to explore the cultural and generational conflicts, that can arise as a result of migration. 

In 'The Tempest', pupils examine the roles of Caliban and Ariel and how they are treated as outsiders, questioning who has a rightful claim to the island. In 'Small Island', pupils look at the play in the context of the Windrush generation and through the lens of key themes, including identity and belonging.  

In this unit, pupils explore the playtext adaptation of Andrea Levy's novel 'Small Island'. They first explore the transition from novel to stage, before reading the playtext in full and exploring key scenes in detail. They then plan and write an essay on the theme of 'hope' in the text.

'Small Island'

Expressions that are regarded as coarse or otherwise unacceptable, including swear words and rude words.

Discriminatory behaviour or images, whether on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation, or otherwise.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of famine, disease, natural disasters.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Depiction or discussion of distress or humiliation e.g. bullying.

Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

to provide historical context and set the time period

to entertain the audience with vintage footage

to introduce the main characters visually

to show the experience of Jamaican weather conditions

Which answer best explains the use of Pathé news clips shown at the start of Act 1, Scene 1?

Mrs Ryder and Hortense are in a hurricane in the schoolhouse.

Hortense describes her upbringing through a flashback.

Hortense witnesses a passionate embrace between Michael and Mrs Ryder.

Hortense tells everyone about the affair.

Michael leaves to join the RAF in London, England.

Michael says goodbye to Hortense and tells her to get away from the island.

Put these events from 'Small Island' Act 1 Scene 1 in the correct order:

it fades as she becomes more involved in events and reality

In 'Small Island', which answer best describes how Hortense’s use of direct address changes throughout the play?

they show the true, harsh realities of colonisation

they present an idealised and one-sided view

What do the Pathé clips in 'Small Island' reveal about the portrayal of colonised countries?

It represents nature’s power over humans.

It foreshadows a literal storm in England.

It shows the strength of the British Empire.

It symbolises the turmoil and heartbreak entering Hortense’s life.

Which answer best explains how the hurricane might function symbolically in Act 1, Scene 1 of 'Small Island'?

to accept realistic and detailed staging as the only way to understand the story

to focus solely on the actors’ words without considering the visual or symbolic

to engage actively by using imagination and meeting the play halfway

to suspend disbelief completely and ignore any symbolic or abstract elements

According to the 'Small Island' director Rufus Norris, what is the “agreement” between performers and audience in theatre?

Is the statement true or false: Act 1, Scene 1 of 'Small Island' begins in a school house and there is a hurricane outside.

Which answer best describes Hortense’s tone in Act 1, Scene 1 of 'Small Island'?

In 'Small Island', when Hortense stops and speaks to the audience, this is an example of ...

In 'Small Island', which word does Mr Philips use to describe Michael's scientific views?

In Act 1, Scene 1 of 'Small Island', what dramatic device does Edmundson use to allow Hortense to share her memories of childhood and explain her background?

Is the statement true or false: Michael and Hortense experience the same upbringing in the Philips’ household.

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 1 Scene 1 with director Rufus Norris

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.