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Home , Amias Paulet, Francis Walsingham, Thomas Phelippes

Tudors! A resource for teachers Tudors! A resource for teachers Welsh National Opera 2

Killing Cousins A participatory historical and musical adventure for year 5/6 Primary Schools

Killing Cousins is an interactive activity for a class of children and their teachers and classroom assistants. It isn’t a ‘performance’ to watch – it’s an exciting and entertaining adventure to be involved in.

This means that all the adults in the space we are using will also be involved in the process and there won’t be room for observers or audience. After the event there will be plenty of opportunity for the participants to share their adventure with other children, staff and parents.

Neither staff nor children need to have any special skills or experience at drama, music or singing. These will always be welcomed but are absolutely not a pre-requisite. We cannot overemphasise that there will be no performance to any outside audience and no embarrassment involved.

To help this project to be as absorbing and focussed as it needs to be to capture the imaginations of the children, can you make sure that the children and their teacher and assistants are uninterrupted during the running of the project.

This would mean no assemblies, please, for the class on those days and no staff or children called out for special lessons or duties. Can you also make sure that there are no visitors on those days or staff walking in and out of the spaces we are using.

The methodology used owes much to the work of two pioneers of drama and role play, Dorothy Heathcote MBE and Dr Sue Jennings, as well as the methodology of Alive and Kicking Theatre Company Leeds. aliveandkickingtheatrecompany.co.uk

Image © National Portrait Gallery, Tudors! A resource for teachers Welsh National Opera 3

Preparation

There is no preparation other than as outlined below. The Can you tell the children the story of the Babington The Tudor Monarchs Plot and explain the background to it. A summary of Can you check that the class have a simple overview the and Mary, Queen of Scots conflict is of who the Tudor Kings and Queens were and what included with this document, as well as an outline of happened to them. If you have time you could also look the Babington Plot and a guide to where to look on at the basic religious differences and the arguments the web for suitable resources. about who should be on the throne. The project will focus on Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots. Planning and evaluations There will be a twilight meeting with the teachers involved Christopher (Kit) Marlowe and William Shakespeare near to the first day of the project. It is important that the Everyone knows about William Shakespeare. You actual teacher and assistants of the class involved be couldn’t get to year five without hearing his name and at this meeting. We will evaluate with teachers after knowing he’s a famous playwright. They might even the project. know something about him or one or two of his plays.

But they probably won’t know anything about . Could you ensure the class know the basics about him, perhaps mention Dr Faustus and the ideas of summoning and necromancy - it’s quite exciting after all. And do tell them about how Christopher Marlowe died, a young man of 29 with a dagger in his eye – and how he might have been a spy!

Henry Percy, The Wizard Earl Quite a lot of people have heard about Doctor Dee, especially since there was that opera written by Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorrillaz and, of course there’s a lot about him in The Terrifying Tudors by Terry Deary. But there was another Tudor magician, a friend of Kit Marlowe, called Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, otherwise known as The Wizard Earl. The class just need to know that he existed and have some idea of how much the Elizabethans, and indeed Queen Elizabeth herself, were so into magic.They should also know how Henry Percy spent the rest of his life under suspicion for being a Catholic and, after the Gunpowder Plot, was imprisoned in The Tower where he spent 17 years of his life, only released shortly before his death. Tudors! A resource for teachers Welsh National Opera 4

Space requirements

Day 1 Day 2 Classroom and a large uncluttered space such as We will be at the stately home for half a day. a school hall. Because of the music and drama involved, echoing gyms should be avoided. Between Day 1 and Day 2 There will be tasks given to the class and their teacher We will start in the morning with the class in their and assistants at the end of Day 1, to be completed classroom and move to a hall after about 50 minutes. before Day 2. Details of these will be given at the twilight The class will return to their classroom after lunch and, meeting. The tasks will take a couple of hours, so we ask after a while, move to the hall. that the teacher ensures, in advance, that there will be enough time for this.

Space for company We would like to have a changing room we can use as a base, close to the hall.

Assembly As already mentioned we request that assembly does not take place on the morning of our visits or, at least, that it does not take place in the hall or space we are using and that it does not involve the class taking part in the project.

Breaktime Due to the flexible nature of the work, we request that break times be flexible for the class involved. They will not be taking a break at the usual school break time.

Risk assessment The children and staff will be asked to participate in a similar way to any practical, interactive drama, movement or PE lesson and the associated risks are as for those school activities.

The company For Killing Cousins: the project is produced by Åsa Malmsten, who will also be helping with the facilitation, and is directed by Rhian Hutchings. The facilitators are also the writer and composer of the story and music: Martin Riley and Helen Woods. They will be accompanied on Day 1 by Dyfed Wyn Evans and Dan Perkin and on Day 2 by Anitra Blaxhall, Amanda Baldwin, Chris Hodges - cello, Sarah Thornett - violin and Gillian Taylor - oboe. The set is designed by Charlotte Neville. Tudors! A resource for teachers Welsh National Opera 5

Day 1 At the school

The Hall or other space Classroom before lunch The project starts in the classroom as soon as possible Tudor Dinner Manners after registration but we ask that the hall be free at this This will be a teacher led session. The class are time to enable the set to be constructed. It is very simple encouraged to keep the Tudor theme going over and will not involve the use of any stage. lunch by behaving like Tudor ladies and gentlemen. A resource is provided that the teacher may use. Classroom While this is happening the musician comes to the Lunch classroom and sets up a keyboard. The children stay The class attempt some Tudor Manners. at their desks and a small area is cleared at the front of the class. Afternoon The hall or other space. When all is ready, Helen and Martin arrive and spend The project re-starts in the classroom as soon as some time with the children and staff. During this time possible after lunch. Meanwhile, in the hall, as soon as there will be introduction and storytelling and drama tables etc. are cleared in the hall our staff reconstruct and singing and music. It will get quite noisy. the set.

After about 50 minutes Helen and Martin and the Classroom musician move to the hall. The class wait ten minutes While this is happening the musician comes, once again, and then follow them down. This is the time when the to the classroom and sets up the keyboard. As for the class may wish to use toilet facilities as the next session morning, the children stay at their desks and a small will run without a break. area is cleared at the front of the class.

Hall When all is ready Helen and Martin arrive and spend When the class is ready the teacher brings the children some time with the children and staff. During this time to the hall. there will be a recap of the morning’s activities and once more storytelling and drama and singing and music. The facilitators will now continue the activity with the It will get quite noisy again. teacher and classroom assistants supporting the children and taking part. Again, after about 50 minutes Helen and Martin and the musician move to the hall. The class wait ten minutes The activity will continue up until a short time before and then follow them down. This is the time when the lunch when the children will return to the classroom with class to use toilet facilities as the next session will run their teacher. We cannot be precise but we anticipate without a break. there will be at least 20 minutes in the classroom.

We will take into account any time needed for setting up dinner tables etc. While the children are with their teacher in the classroom we will dismantle our simple set and move it out of the way of dinner tables as necessary. It will fit neatly into a corner or side of the hall or on a stage or in a cupboard. Tudors! A resource for teachers Welsh National Opera 6

Day 1 At the school cont.

Hall They will have been given the task to complete by the When the class is ready the teacher brings the children time of the next session and can start on it immediately. to the hall. The tasks between sessions The facilitators will now continue the activity with the These will take a couple of hours minimum and time teacher and classroom assistants supporting the needs to be allowed for them in advance planning. children and taking part. NB These tasks do not require previous preparation. The activity will continue up until a short time before the end of school. At the end the facilitators will leave the hall and the teacher will take the children back to their classroom.

Day 2

This will be a half day session, either a morning or interactive music, drama, movement or PE lesson and afternoon, at a stately home as previously arranged the associated risks are as for those school activities. with the school. End of Day 2 We ask you to be very clear with whoever is providing At the end of Day 2 there will be a further task given to the transport that punctuality is of the utmost importance. the class. This is entirely voluntary and will involve some invention, storymaking and writing. All preparations will be made by WNO and the staff of the building.

Risk assessment As for the previous day, the children and staff will be asked to participate in a similar way to any practical, Tudors! A resource for teachers Welsh National Opera 7

Outcomes

During the Project we explore: History We expect the class to have learned something about Singing and music the political and religious conflict between Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots and the problems besetting the Opera Tudor Monarchs. They will have sung a song composed by Henry VIII, visited a Tudor Market, advised Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots and creatively and Storytelling imaginatively lived through a part of history.

Role play Opera The class will have met musicians and opera singers Problem solving and worked with them and have acquired some understanding of how arias in opera work. They will Character investigation and have participated in sections of two Tudor operas, character building Maria Stuarda and Anna Bolena. Literacy Visual and performing arts They will have had a taste of Elizabethan English and met two Tudor playwrights. There are many creative music, Creative and persuasive writing drama and writing opportunities within the project and opportunity to develop further afterwards. Decoding PSE/Citizenship The class will have examined aspects of family conflict and resolution.

We look forward to working with you and the children. Tudors! A resource for teachers Welsh National Opera 8

Elizabeth Tudor and Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots It’s the year 1586 and Queen Elizabeth I is on the throne

Elizabeth Tudor, Queen of England and Mary, Queen of Phillip II of Spain had been married to Elizabeth’s half Scots are cousins, both Queens, both living in the same sister, the previous queen of England – often called country, and both of them wishing they weren’t. Bloody Mary because she was the kind of Catholic Queen who believed in burning and beheading Elizabeth is in England because she’s the Queen. Protestants - so, he might be keen on invading England. Mary is here because she’s fallen out with her subjects in Scotland. They weren’t keen on her to begin with, And so might the Catholic King of France, Henry lll she being a French-educated Catholic and most of who had been partially responsible for the bloodthirsty her people serious Protestants and she upset them massacre of French Huguenot Protestants in Paris in even more when she married someone they totally 1572 along with Mary’s uncle, the Duke of Guise. disrespected, (a kissing cousin) a violent bad tempered drunk called Darnley. These fears of invasion and rebellion have made it difficult for Elizabeth to know what to do with Mary. Then, as many believed, she had him murdered in order She couldn’t very well have sent her back to Scotland to to marry Bothwell who was just as useless as Darnley, so face her enemies and maybe get killed – she’s a cousin the Scottish nobility locked her up and made her appoint and a queen after all! her young son, James, King of Scotland. Then, in 1567 she escaped, went on the run and chose England to And she didn’t want her going abroad to get help and take refuge. It wasn’t a good idea. support and maybe come back with an army of French and Spanish. And she couldn’t let her wander about And this is why: Queen Elizabeth is what we might call Britain attracting Catholic supporters. So – she’s locked a control freak – and she needs to be. She’s a Protestant her cousin up in various castles and manor houses and Queen just across the water from a completely Catholic has kept a guard on her for nearly 19 years. And, in all Europe in a time of bloodthirsty religious warfare. that time she’s never spoken a word to her! Extremists on both sides are ready to fight, kill and accept martyrdom for what they believe. Mary, Queen of Scots hasn’t really helped herself. She’s much more passionate and impetuous than The Pope has declared that Elizabeth isn’t the rightful Elizabeth – some would say spoilt. She has made it clear, ruler of England because Catholics don’t recognise her to anybody who would listen, that she feels she should father, Henry VIII’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon so be the queen of England and, during these 19 years Henry’s marriage to Elizabeth’s mother, , there have been various schemes and plots to put her was illegal, so Elizabeth is illegitimate and has no right to on the throne, all of them foiled by Elizabeth’s advisors. the throne and the real queen should be the nearest legal heir to the throne – Mary, Queen of Scots! From what the Pope has said – it might not be sinful to kill her – perhaps even a righteous thing to do?

In that case some of Elizabeth’s Catholic subjects might think it was time to have a rebellion and put Mary on the throne, especially if they were supported by Spanish and French forces. Tudors! A resource for teachers Welsh National Opera 9

One of the closest of these advisors is Elizabeth’s Certainly he was devoted to his work: he even paid his Secretary of State, Sir , a real spies with his own money! By 1586, there are so many spymaster with a network of secret agents all over plots involving her or centred on her, that he has decided Britain and Europe. He uses young people, often Mary would be better off dead. But how to accomplish it? scholars and students to infiltrate groups of Catholics at home and abroad and has specialist decoders like Elizabeth doesn’t want to kill her cousin and a queen. , who are experts in deciphering If it is considered lawful for God’s chosen monarch to letters and forgery, and skilled craftsmen like be executed what might that mean for Elizabeth herself? Arthur Gregory, who can open sealed letters Walsingham knows that he has to force Elizabeth’s hand. and repair them without detection. He has to make sure that there is no other choice. He needs to uncover a conspiracy to invade England Walsingham also uses Agent Provocateurs, agents who and kill Elizabeth and he needs proof that Mary has not only spy on plotters and conspirators but actually been a part of it – that she intends to have her cousin encourage them to plan assassinations and the like. Of Elizabeth killed. course Walsingham knows what’s happening all the time and, when his trap has involved enough people he can But first there have to be laws that make sure that anyone arrest them. Once arrested, the conspirators might be involved, even a queen, even if all they do is encourage tortured to get confessions – bearing in mind that people someone else to rebellion, can be executed. And that’s who are tortured will generally confess to anything. where the law and bond of ‘Association’ comes in, in which Elizabeth’s courtiers swear that they will hunt Walsingham’s chief torturer is man called Topcliffe who down and kill anyone who conspires in any way against specialises in the use of the rack and the thumbscrew the Queen and then The Act for Surety of The Queens and all the other well-known Elizabethan methods of Person, which allows for the trial of any claimant to the persuasion. Finally, the condemned traitors are executed, throne who might be involved in such a conspiracy. by beheading if they’re lucky – if not, hanging drawing Well, it’s obvious whom Walsingham is aiming for. and quartering about which the least said the better. All that is required now is to catch her at it, but Mary is During the 19 years of Mary’s captivity there have been being very careful. Walsingham needs to put temptation many such conspiracies, most of them infiltrated or her way and keep a close eye on her so he changes her even encouraged by Walsingham’s spies and agent house arrest so that she is under the watchful eye of one provocateurs. The most important were the Northern of his friends, Sir at Chartley, a moated Uprising, The and The Throckmorton Manor House. Now all he needs is to find a conspiracy in Conspiracy. which to entangle her. The stage is now set for what will become known as The Babington Plot and the execution All have involved some sort of uprising and assassination by beheading of Mary, Queen of Scots. of Elizabeth and then putting Mary on the throne. All have been to some extent ‘managed’ by Walsingham who may have been specially driven to weed out all these Catholic conspiracies by his memories of the Massacre of Paris where he watched the protestant murdered by Catholic mobs encouraged by the Duke of Guise. Tudors! A resource for teachers Welsh National Opera 10

The Babington Plot

Mary is imprisoned under the guard of Sir Amias Paulet. Walsingham makes arrangements for Mary’s execution; Walsingham instructs Paulet to open, read and pass to Elizabeth signs the warrant on 1 February 1587, and Mary unsealed any letters that she receives, and to block entrusts it to William Davidson who has been appointed any potential route for secret correspondence. as Junior Secretary of State in late September 1586.

In a successful attempt to entrap her, Walsingham Davison passes the warrant to Cecil, and a privy council arranges a single exception: a means for Mary’s letters to convened by Cecil without Elizabeth’s knowledge agrees be smuggled in and out of Chartley in a beer keg. Mary is to carry out the sentence as soon as is practical. misled into thinking these secret letters are secure, while Within a week, Mary is beheaded. in reality they are deciphered and read by Walsingham’s agents. On hearing of the execution, Elizabeth claims not to have sanctioned the action and that she had not meant In January, , encouraged by Robin Davison to part with the warrant. Davison is arrested and Poley, one of Walsingham’s Agent Provocateurs, writes imprisoned in the . to Mary about an impending plot to free her and kill Elizabeth. Mary’s reply is clearly encouraging, and Walsingham’s share of Elizabeth’s displeasure is small sanctions Babington’s plans but part of this is forged because he was absent from court, at home ill, in the by Phillipes, Walsingham’s agent. weeks just before and after the execution. Davison is eventually released in October 1588, on the orders of Walsingham has Babington and his associates rounded Cecil and Walsingham. up; 14 are executed in September 1586. In October, Mary is put on trial under the Act for the Surety of the Queen’s Person in front of 36 commissioners, including Walsingham.

During the presentation of evidence against her, Mary breaks down and points accusingly at Walsingham saying, ‘all of this is the work of Monsieur de Walsingham for my destruction’, to which he replies, ‘God is my witness that as a private person I have done nothing unworthy of an honest man, and as Secretary of State, nothing unbefitting my duty.’

Mary is found guilty, and the warrant for her execution is drafted, but Elizabeth hesitates to sign it, despite pressure from Walsingham. Walsingham writes to Paulet urging him to find ‘some way to shorten the life’ of Mary to relieve Elizabeth of the burden, to which Paulet replies indignantly, ‘God forbid that I should make so foul a shipwreck of my conscience, or leave so great a blot to my poor posterity, to shed blood without law or warrant.’ Tudors! A resource for teachers Welsh National Opera 11

Lunch and Elizabethan Table Manners

If the class wish to keep the Elizabethan 8 Don’t stuff your mouth, pick your teeth, make rude theme going through lunch they may like noises, scratch yourself, blow on your food, spit in to consider these rules of table. the washing basin or across the table, spit up food into your dish, talk with your mouth full, or fall asleep at the table. 1 Make sure your hands and nails are clean. Check before you eat. You can carry your 9 Don’t put your elbows on the table. Considering that sword but don’t use it to eat with. the table is typically a board laid on top of trestles, this could cause an unfortunate accident. 2 Napkins or handkerchiefs should be used but you may use the table-cloth instead. If you have neither 10 Don’t throw your bones on the floor! If food is you must be very poor! In any case, keep the table dropped on the floor pick it up but don’t eat it. as clean as possible. Don’t stroke cats and dogs at the table. 3 Keep your knife clean and sharp. Using forks is 11 Don’t lick your hands. considered dodgy. Cut your meat into small pieces and don’t hack it into great gobbets. Cut your bread with your knife, and don’t tear it in great hunks. You can put pieces of bread in your soup.

4 Speak politely to the servants. Tell jokes. Make witty remarks. Invent funny little poems and tell then to the people on your table.

5 Tell your friends all the news and gossip. Only say very complimentary things about the King or Queen or you could get your hand cut off! You can say what you like about the Kings of France and Spain. They are the enemy!

6 Don’t leave your spoon in the dish when you are done. Don’t overfill the spoon and definitely don’t spill it on the table! Don’t slurp. Empty and wipe your mouth before drinking.

7 Enjoy the roast swan if there’s any on the table but if you should come across that strange white tuberous root – patata or whatever it’s called, that they say Sir Raleigh or one of his friends captured from the Spanish Pirates on their way home from the New World – eat it at your own peril! It’s related to the deadly nightshade and may be poisonous! Tudors! A resource for teachers Welsh National Opera 12

Useful websites

Religion in the time of The Tudors primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/tudors/religion.htm

Tudor spying bbc.co.uk/history/british/tudors/spying_01.shtml

Christopher Marlowe primaryfacts.com/502/christopher-marlowe-facts/

The Babington Plot luminarium.org/encyclopedia/babington.htm

Henry Percy who-is-shakespeare.wikispaces.com/Henry+Percy,+Earl+of+Northumberland supremacyandsurvival.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/wizard-earl-born-on-april-27-1564.html

Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots historylearningsite.co.uk/mary_queen_of_scots.htm historyonthenet.com/Tudors/elizabeth_mary_queen_of_scots.htm onthetudortrail.com/Blog/2012/02/08/the-execution-of-mary-queen-of-scots/