Lesson video

Hello and thank you for joining me.

My name is Mrs. Butterworth and I'm really happy to have you in the lesson today because we will be watching Act 2, Scenes 2 to 6 of "Small Island," so you need to make sure that you have access to the National Theatre's recording of this production.

Before we watch those scenes, we will also be listening and watching the director, Rufus Norris, talk about Act 2 and giving us an insight into those scenes before we begin watching it.

So, lots to do, let's get going.

So in this lesson you will use Rufus Norris' comments to explore the contrast of Act 2 and the use of theatrical techniques.

Now, here are some key words.

You may notice these being used in the slides, but also listen out in the video of Rufus Norris speaking 'cause you may hear those words used there too.

So, revolve in theater refers to a part of a stage that turns in a circle to quickly change scenes or settings.

So you may have noticed this in "Small Island" that that stage does, it moves round in a circle.

Vibrancy refers to liveliness, energy, or brightness in something.

And remnant is kind of like another word for a leftover, so it refers to a small part leftover from something larger, so a remnant of dinner or a remnant of the building would refer to like a leftover part of something like that.

So here is the outline of the lesson.

We're going to start by watching Rufus Norris speak, so we're gonna discuss Act 2 with Rufus Norris and respond to the videos.

And then we're going to move on to watch the production of "Small Island" Act 2, Scenes 2 to 6.

In this video, you will watch Rufus Norris talk about the differences between Act 1 and Act 2.

When you have finished watching the video, you will be asked to answer the following questions.

List two ways Rufus Norris says that Act 2 is different to Act 1.

And how does the use of the revolve in Act 2 affect the way the story is told? Now, you will have time to answer those questions after you have watched the video, so the most important thing is is that you are watching and listening to what Rufus Norris has to say, so maybe keep this task and this question in the back of your mind.

You may want to gather some pen or a laptop to make some notes as you listen.

But remember, the most important thing is is that we are listening to what he says.

So, when we are all ready, we can watch the video, which I'm going to press play on now.

<v ->Act 2 is completely different from Act 1</v> and we're helped because for most of it, we're in one environment, which is the house.

So we can, we can.

By constructing.

By constructing a house at the center of it, that gives us the opportunity to occasionally go outside the house when we go into the post office scene at the railway station or when we're going outside the education department with odd little flashbacks, it means we've really got one set.

In the first act, we've got loads of different environments that we're going to in Act 2 because we've got a revolve, we can literally go see it from this perspective, that perspective, we're in the lounge, we're in the bedroom, we're upstairs, we're downstairs.

So it's a.

And there is no direct address, so, in a way, it's a very, very different half.

There are flights of fancy within it, you know, where we get Aunty coming back or Michael coming across later on.

But.

But in a way.

And we're still using the video language in a much more subtle way, generally, on the back wall, so it's still there but it's like a remnant of the hope and the vibrancy of these young people's lives as we're in a much, much more real, difficult, challenging, broken furniture, you know, egg and chips world.

<v ->Okay, now we have watched that video,</v> it is over to you to complete those tasks, so do pause the video to give yourself time to do that.

Off you go.

Okay, so let's feedback some answers.

So this is a really great opportunity to think about your own responses.

So for the list two ways that Rufus Norris says that Act 2 is different to Act 1, Jacob has answered in the following way.

He said that "Act 2 is set mainly in one environment, the house, unlike Act 1, which has many different settings.

Act 2 has no direct address, so it has no direct address, which removes the characters speaking directly to the audience, making the scene feel more serious and realistic compared to the storytelling style of Act 1." So those are the two things that Jacob put down, but now I want you to think about your own answers and I'd like you to discuss, please, can you add anything to Jacob's answer? So pause the video to make sure you've got time to answer that question.

Off you go.

Okay, and let's look at that second question.

So how does the use of the revolve, that turning stage in Act 2, affect the way the story is told? So what did Rufus Norris say about this? So Alex has said that "Rufus Norris explains that the revolving stage in Act 2 allows the audience to move around the house and see different perspectives, highlighting the confined setting and making the story feel more intense and focused." So, again, I'd like you to think about your own ideas and I'd like you to discuss, please, can you add anything to Alex's answer? You know what to do now.

Pause the video to give yourself time to do that.

Off you go.

Okay, so let's keep going, excellent work so far.

So question for you, and you need to decide whether the answer is A, B, C, or D.

What does Rufus Norris say about the use of flights of fancy in Act 2? So you'll need to think back to that video.

What does Rufus Norris say about the use of flights of fancy in Act 2? Pause the video to select your answer now.

Okay, so hopefully you all have an answer, and hopefully that answer is C, though what he says about the flights of fancy is they appear subtly as memories or reminders of hope and youth.

So for Task A, I would like you, please, to answer the following questions.

Based on Rufus Norris' comments and what you already know, what do you think the atmosphere or feeling will be like in Act 2, Scenes 2 to 6? So this is all about thinking about your expectations and making some predictions about what you are going to watch.

And then number two, what are your expectations of the scenes? So think about maybe what you expect to feel or what you expect to see, and really think about that.

So, it is time to pause the video and get those questions answered.

Off you go.

Okay, thank you so much for your suggestions.

Now let's see how two of our Oak pupils, Laura and Lucas, answered.

So Laura has said that Act 2, Scene 1, so referring back to the start of Act 2, "Act 2, Scene 1 felt serious and tense, even dark, so I think the rest of Act 2 will be even more intense.

It might be difficult to watch as the characters face some horrible truths about their situations.

The atmosphere will probably feel heavy and emotional." I really like how Laura has drawn on previous scenes that she has watched to really kind of influence her expectations and predictions.

And Lucas refers to Rufus Norris by saying, "Based on what Rufus Norris said, I expect Act 2 to feel darker and more real.

I'm interested to see the use of the revolve.

I think there will be fewer jokes and more serious conversations." Okay, so I'd like you to spend a few moments to discussing the following question.

To what extent do you agree and why? Pause the video to give yourself time to do that.

Off you go.

We are now at the second part of our lesson, which is all about watching Act 2, Scenes 2 to 6.

So this is where you will need access to that recording, the National Theatre's recording of "Small Island." So you will now watch Act 2, Scenes 2 to 6.

Scene 2 begins as Miss Todd enters, and Scene 4 ends as Gilbert and Hortense exit.

Now, as you watch the scenes, not only will I like you to enjoy it, which is very important, but I'd also like you to think about the specific things that Rufus Norris mentioned.

So look at the use of the revolve and outside spaces like the post office and the education department, so really look at how that revolve is used to show those different perspectives.

Notice the absence of direct address and how this affects the feeling of realism and tension.

And finally, those flights of fancy, so Norris refers to flights of fancy in the returning of previous characters, so think about the kind of feelings and atmosphere they create and what they are used for.

Okay, so you're going to need to pause me and move over to watching that recording of "Small Island." So you can do that now.

Welcome back.

Wow, Act 2 really is powerful, isn't it? And such a stark difference to Act 1.

I appreciate that some of those scenes can be really difficult to watch and quite emotional, but I think that's what's so wonderful and amazing about this production, is it doesn't shy away from issues and tells these characters' stories so honestly and beautifully.

So, it is now over to you for a question.

Which answer offers the best explanation of the significance of the fish and chips scene and what it represents? So which answer offers the best explanation of the significance of the fish and chips scene and what it represents? So you now need to pick A, B, or C and you'll need to pause the video to do this.

Pause the video now.

Okay, so hopefully we have answer B.

So the fish and chips scene is quite a significant scene because it shows a turning point in Gilbert and Hortense's relationship, showing growing understanding and connection.

So it's not just about the fish and chips, it's not just about the fish and chips, it's about that growing connection between the two.

So what I would like you to do now for Task B is to choose one object or one moment or line from these scenes that we have just watched and I would like you in a few sentences to explain what it symbolizes or represents, how it made you think or feel, and why you think the writer or director chose to include it.

So pick something that really stood out to you.

And again, it can be anything from a line that one of the actors speaks, or an object or even a moment.

So pick something that stood out to you and then write down those explanations.

Okay, you know what to do, gather what you need to complete this task and then pause the video now.

Great, thank you so much for that.

I was really interested to see what you all picked because there's so many different answers to that task.

But let's look at how Sofia answered.

So she chose, so Sofia chose a moment, so she chose Miss Todd's visit, and "this moment shows the hostility Queenie and her lodgers face from their neighbors.

It made me feel uncomfortable because it reminds me how people can be unfair and rude to others who are different.

I think the director included this scene to highlight the reality of the racial tension and difficulties the characters have living in Britain at that time." And I think that's a really excellent moment that Sofia has chosen because Miss Todd really is quite a shocking character and the way she talks about things is just, yeah, an incredible eye-opening moment in the play.

Okay, so what I would like you to do now is I would like you to discuss, please, and reflect on your own responses.

And the questions you need to reflect on are, do you notice any similarities or differences between Sofia's response and your own ideas? And explain what they are and why you think your views are alike or different.

Okay? So let's just say those questions together again, discuss.

Do you notice any similarities or differences between Sofia's response and your own ideas? And explain what they are and why you think your views are alike or different.

Okay, so pause the video to get that final task completed.

Off you go.

And a very well done, everyone.

We have reached the end of the lesson.

Let's just recap some of those key points that we have looked at today.

Norris explains that Act 2 mostly takes place in the house.

Act 2 uses the revolving stage to show different views of the house without changing sets.

Norris describes how the use of video becomes less apparent in Act 2 as the characters' lives become more serious.

There is no direct address in Act 2, making it feel more serious and less hopeful.

And Norris describes subtle flights of fancy with Aunty and Michael as reminders of the hope from Act 1.

So I really enjoyed that lesson and I'm really glad that you decided to join me for it, so I hope to do it all again soon.

I'll see you then, goodbye.