in theatre, it is a way of moving from one scene or moment to another using sound, lighting, movement, or set changes

a collection of old documents, photos, or videos kept for their historical importance

recorded video or film, often used to show real events or add meaning on stage or screen

dealing with things in a practical and realistic way, rather than focusing on what is ideal or theoretical

British English CC

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

English

Exploring 'Small Island' and the Windrush context

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

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

'Small Island': reading Act 1 Scene 2

'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.

Language which has the power to offend including terms of racist or ethnic abuse, sexual and sexist abuse, abuse relating to sexuality, pejorative terms aimed at illness or disabilities and derogatory or inappropriate use of holy names or religious terms.

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 distress or humiliation e.g. bullying.

Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Depiction or discussion of sex or sexual body parts, including sex education.

Depiction or discussion of sexual content

'In 'Small Island', what theme does the cinema scene between Queenie and Bernard highlight, according to Rufus Norris?

How is Queenie described by Rufus Norris in Act 1 Scene 2 of 'Small Island'?

What year does Act 1 Scene 2 of 'Small Island' take place in?

Bernard expresses love during the air raid.

Michael enters, raising emotional stakes.

Queenie reflects on her reasons for marrying Bernard.

Put these statements in order to summarise Scene 2 of 'Small Island's' emotional journey.

Is this statement true or false? During the air raid siren scene in 'Small Island', Bernard expresses his love for Queenie for the first time.

Which word beginning with the letter ‘t’ describes a way of moving from one scene or moment to another in theatre, often using sound, lighting, movement, or set changes?

It builds suspense and a sense of foreboding.

It introduces all the characters at once.

Which answer best explains the dramatic purpose of starting 'Small Island' with a hurricane?

Who is standing by the doorway in the opening scene of 'Small Island' and showing no fear?

It creates a connection and reveals her personality.

Which answer best explains the effect of Hortense’s direct address in 'Small Island'?

Which theatrical technique allows the audience to learn about Hortense’s background in 'Small Island'?

It is replaced by other characters’ narration.

It fades as her heart is broken and events catch up with her.

In 'Small Island', what happens to Hortense’s direct address as the play continues, according to Rufus Norris?

Audiences must never break the fourth wall.

The audience agrees to imagine and believe in the world being created on stage.

Theatre is only effective if it uses realism.

What does the director Rufus Norris say about the “agreement” between audience and performers in theatre?

Starter Quiz

Which answer best explains the dramatic purpose of starting 'Small Island' with a hurricane?