in theatre, fluidity refers the smooth and seamless flow of movement, scenes, or ideas during a performance

British English CC

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

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

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

'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

'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 violence or fighting, including threats of violence or the aftermath of violence.

Feeling unsafe or being asked to keep secrets.

In Act 2, Scene 1 of 'Small Island', what does Gilbert accidentally do when showing Hortense the room?

Which theme is most clearly explored in Act 2, Scene 1 of 'Small Island', when Hortense arrives and sees Gilbert’s small, cramped room?

The characters use direct address throughout Act 2 just like Act 1.

Direct address is mostly removed in Act 2.

Direct address is replaced by songs in Act 2.

Direct address is used only for comic relief in Act 2.

In 'Small Island', how does Act 2 change the use of direct address compared to Act 1?

Which word best describes the setting of Act 2 compared to Act 1 in 'Small Island'?

Act 1 is more grounded, and Act 2 is playful.

Act 1 uses a fixed setting, Act 2 has fluid movement.

Act 1 is playful and expansive, Act 2 is serious and confined.

Both acts have similar tones and staging.

Which of these best explains the contrast between Acts 1 and 2 of 'Small Island' according to the writer Helen Edmundson?

It shows the triumph of British colonialism and unity after the war.

It shows ongoing racial and social inequality despite promises of a better life.

It suggests that economic hardship affected all characters equally.

It emphasises the success of British immigration policies.

How might the contrast between Hortense’s expectations and the reality of Gilbert’s situation in Act 2 Scene 1 reflect broader post-war themes in 'Small Island'?

In 'Small Island', who does Hortense mistakenly approach at the start of Scene 4, thinking he is Michael?

Which two characters begin a relationship in Act 1 Scenes 4-8 of 'Small Island'?

What is the significance of the Windrush ship image at the end of Act 1 of 'Small Island'?

Is the statement true or false? Michael tells Queenie he lost his family in a hurricane.

Which words best describe the staging of Act 1, 'Small Island', according to the director Rufus Norris?

It is clearly shown and explicitly stated that Queenie is pregnant.

It is hinted at subtly, but not directly revealed.

Queenie’s pregnancy is not mentioned or suggested at all.

Queenie openly announces her pregnancy to the other characters.

At the end of Act 1 in Rufus Norris' production of 'Small Island', how is Queenie’s pregnancy presented?

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

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

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

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