in theatre, is a part of the stage that turns in a circle to quickly change scenes or settings

liveliness, energy, or brightness in something

a small part left over from something larger

British English CC

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

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

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

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

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Depiction or discussion of sexual or domestic abuse or violence, including  threats of or the aftermath of.

Depiction or discussion of sexual violence

It confuses the audience by spinning too often.

It represents the characters’ escape from reality.

It lets the audience see different perspectives of the same space.

According to the director, Rufus Norris, what effect does the revolve have in Act 2 of 'Small Island?'

In Act 2 Scene 2 of 'Small Island', what themes are most clearly reinforced by Miss Todd’s confrontation with Queenie and Hortense?

He battles between dignity and survival in the face of racism.

He is unsure whether to stay in England or return to Jamaica.

In 'Small Island', Gilbert’s confrontation with the railway workers reveals what internal conflict?

That racism doesn’t exist in the education system.

That qualifications from the Caribbean were fully respected.

That structural barriers prevent her from achieving her goals.

In 'Small Island', what does Hortense’s encounter at the council office reveal?

To reflect a more grounded, character-driven realism.

To return to historical staging conventions.

Pathé footage no longer existed after the war.

Why might the director of 'Small Island', Rufus Norris, choose to reduce video and projection elements in Act 2?

Is the statement true or false? In 'Small Island', the imagined appearances of Aunty and Miss Jewel offer comic relief and interrupt the tension.

Which word best describes the staging of Act 1, 'Small Island'?

What emotional tone does Act 2 Scene 1 of 'Small Island' primarily convey?

Gilbert is woken by the doorbell and panics.

Queenie enters and tries to make conversation with Hortense.

Kenneth and Gilbert carry Hortense’s heavy trunk.

Hortense scolds Gilbert for not meeting her at the dock.

Put the plot points from Act 2, scene 1 of 'Small Island' in the correct order.

The minimal, enclosed space mirrors their feelings of hope and celebration.

The open set creates a sense of freedom and escape.

The confined, realistic space highlights disappointment and emotional tension.

The shifting set makes the characters feel disoriented and confused.

How does Helen Edmundson use the setting in Act 2 to reflect the characters’ emotional states?

It shows that the characters are now more playful and carefree.

It reflects the characters’ more serious, constrained, and realistic struggles.

It suggests the characters are disconnected from reality.

It shows that the characters are confused and uncertain about their actions.

How does the absence of direct address in Act 2 of 'Small Island' reflect the characters’ situations?

It adds comic relief to an otherwise serious scene.

It shows how both characters have exactly the same view of England.

It highlights how different their expectations and experiences have been.

It reveals they already have a strong romantic bond.

Why is the contrast between Hortense and Gilbert so important in Act 2 Scene 1 of 'Small Island'?

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

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

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

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