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STUDY GUIDE FEBRUARY 2018 King Charles III by Mike Bartlett Table of Contents A. Guidelines for Productive Classroom Discussion ............................................................ 1 B. Feedback ............................................................................................................................... 2 Teacher Response Form ...................................................................................................... 2 Student Response Form .. ………………………………………………………………………….4 C. Introduction to Studio 180 Theatre ..................................................................................... 5 D. Introduction to the Play and the Playwright ....................................................................... 7 The Play – King Charles III……….……………………………………………………………..7 The Playwright – Mike Bartlett..………………………………………………………………...7 F. Attending the Play ................................................................................................................ 8 G. Background Information…………………………………………………………………………..9 Mike Bartlett: How I Wrote King Charles III ....................................................................... 9 Play Synopsis: King Charles III Scene by Scene…………………………………………...13 H. Topics for Discussion and Classroom Activities……………………………………………16 1. Theatrical Presentation……………………………………………………………………..16 2. Power & Responsibility……………………………………………………………………..18 3. Family, Loyalty, Duty & Tradition ................................................................................ 21 4. Media, Privacy & Free Speech .................................................................................... 23 I. Literary Devices .................................................................................................................. 25 1. Iambic Pentameter…………………………………………………………………………..25 2. Metaphor……………………………………………………………………………………...27 © 2017, Studio 180 Theatre This Studio 180 Study Guide for King Charles III by Mike Bartlett is copyright © 2017, Studio 180 Theatre, and may be reprinted, reproduced or used only with the prior written permission of Studio 180 Theatre. All requests for reprinting, reproducing or use of this Study Guide should be directed in writing to [email protected]. Studio 180 Theatre Study Guide for King Charles III • Winter 2018 A. Guidelines for Productive Classroom Discussion Thank you for bringing your students to King Charles III. We hope your students have the most positive and engaging theatre experience possible. To that end, we have created this Study Guide to support your pre-show preparation and post-show follow-up in the classroom. For the most robust exploration of the characters and themes of King Charles III, we recommend booking a Studio 180 IN CLASS workshop led by our experienced Artist Educators. We use drama-based activities to promote empathy and inspire critical thinking in three immersive sessions, delving into the big questions of the play. Please contact Jessica Greenberg to learn more or book a workshop. Studio 180 is known for provocative shows that tackle potentially sensitive, personal and controversial topics. King Charles III contains some serious themes that may feel private or uncomfortable for some students, including issues of identity, family, privacy and consent. With this in mind, Studio 180 has developed the following guidelines to help you lead productive pre- and post-show sessions in which all students feel valued, respected and able to contribute openly and honestly to the discussion. • Class members should make a commitment to respecting one another. Invite suggestions from students as to what “respect” means to them. Some of these guidelines may include commitments to confidentiality, avoiding side chatter, and never ridiculing or putting down participants or their ideas. • Your class may include students from a wide variety of cultural, racial, religious and national backgrounds, as well as students whose gender and sexual identities range across a broad and diverse spectrum. Teachers and students must resist the urge to place individuals in the spotlight based on their perceived identity or point of view. Students will engage in the conversation as they feel comfortable. • Family diversity is important to keep in mind for both teachers and students to avoid generalizations and assumptions that could isolate or alienate individuals. Frequent reminders that there will often be as many different perspectives as there are people in the room are useful and help reinforce the value of a multiplicity of ideas and points of view. • It is the moderator’s role to establish a space of respect and inclusion, and they must take special care to ensure that students holding a majority opinion do not vilify those “on the other side” who hold a minority view. The moderator should also pose questions to the class to help keep the conversation on track. • The point of a classroom discussion about King Charles III should not be to reach a class consensus. The goal should be to establish a forum for a free and respectful exchange of ideas. 1 Studio 180 Theatre Study Guide for King Charles III • Winter 2018 B. Feedback 1. Teacher Response Form Studio 180 is grateful for your feedback and strives to incorporate your suggestions into our educational programming. Kindly complete this form and return it by mail to Studio 180 Theatre, 19 Madison Ave, Third Floor, Toronto, ON, M5R 2S2. We welcome student feedback as well, so please do not hesitate to send us student reviews, reports, projects and other responses. If you prefer to respond electronically, we offer a single teacher/student feedback form that can be completed here: http://studio180theatre.com/education/feedback/education-feedback-form/. 1. How did you find out about King Charles III? 2. Did you find the Study Guide useful in preparing your class for the play and/or in helping to shape post-show class discussion? 3. Did you find the post-show Q&A session productive and interesting? 4. Did the themes and issues of the play inform or enhance your course curriculum? Were you able to use the experience at the theatre as a springboard to class work and if so, how? 2 Studio 180 Theatre Study Guide for King Charles III • Winter 2018 6. If your class participated in a Studio 180 IN CLASS workshop in connection to the play, please tell us about the experience. What were your favourite parts of the workshop? Is there anything you would have changed or wish had been different? 7. What did you think of the Artist Educators and their ability to engage and inspire the students? 8. Please share any additional feedback. 3 Studio 180 Theatre Study Guide for King Charles III • Winter 2018 2. Student Response Form Thank you for taking the time to respond to Studio 180 Theatre’s survey about your recent experience with King Charles III. Your feedback is important and we appreciate your help! NAME (optional) SCHOOL YOUR GRADE LEVEL YOUR SUBJECT OF STUDY (e.g., Drama, World Issues, etc.) 1. What did you think of the play? 2. Did you feel prepared for the play? What activities helped you feel comfortable with its themes and content? What would have enhanced your experience of the play? 3. If you participated in a Studio 180 IN CLASS workshop, tell us about that experience. What were your favourite parts? Was there anything you would have changed? 4. Tell us about the Artist Educators who led the workshop sessions. How did they do? 5. Please share any additional feedback on the other side of this page. 4 Studio 180 Theatre Study Guide for King Charles III • Winter 2018 C. Introduction to Studio 180 Theatre Inspired by the belief that people can engage more fully in the world through the experience of live performance, Studio 180 Theatre produces socially relevant theatre that provokes public discourse and promotes community engagement. In 2017/18 we are celebrating 15 years of bringing Toronto audiences compelling, high quality theatre that inspires us to ask big questions about our world and ourselves. Our inaugural production of The Laramie Project played to sold out houses at Artword Theatre in Toronto in 2003. Its success led to a 2004 remount at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, which earned two Dora Award nominations. Since then, Studio 180 has continued to stage acclaimed productions of plays that tackle difficult issues and generate powerful audience and community responses. These are often Toronto, Canadian and/or North American premieres of large ensemble pieces that are contemporary, internationally renowned, and unlikely to be produced elsewhere. As an independent theatre company, we are a nomadic group of artists. We create and produce our work in various spaces and venues across Toronto and we frequently partner with other companies in order to stage our plays. Past partnerships have included collaborations with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Canadian Stage, The Musical Stage Company (formerly Acting Up Stage), The Theatre Centre, Tarragon Theatre and The Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company. King Charles III marks our fifth partnership with Mirvish Productions and our fourth Off-Mirvish season. In addition to our producing partners, we have a proud history of collaborating with community and advocacy organizations to raise funds and awareness around issues, causes and communities. Through special events, art exhibits in our theatre lobbies, pre- and post-show conversations, and panel discussions, we work together with artists, community leaders and subject matter
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