Yerma − Learning Pack
Contents
About This Pack...... 1
Background Information...... 2
Teaching Information...... 3
Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis...... 5
1 Yerma − Learning Pack
About
This learning pack supports the Young Vic’s production of Yerma, directed by Simon Stone, which opened on 29th July 2017 in London.
Our packs are designed to support viewing the recording on the National Theatre Collection. This pack provides links to the UK school curriculum and other productions in the Collection. It also has a plot synopsis with timecodes to allow you to jump to specific sections of the play.
1 Yerma − Learning Pack Background Information
Recording Date – 31st August, 2017 Location – Young Vic, London Age Recommendation – 12+
Cast
Her ...... Billie Piper John ...... Brendan Cowell Mary ...... Charlotte Randle Victor ...... John MacMillan Helen ...... Maureen Beattie Des ...... Thalissa Teixeira
Creative Team Direction ...... Simon Stone Writer ...... Simon Stone (after Federico García Lorca) Design ...... Lizzie Clachan Costumes ...... Alice Babidge Light ...... James Farncombe Music and Sound ...... Stefan Gregory Video ...... Jack Henry James Casting ...... Julia Horan CDG
2 Yerma − Learning Pack Teaching Information
This production is particularly suitable for:
• Drama and theatre students exploring contemporary or reimagined versions of classic plays for A ‘Level.
In particular you might like to explore:
• Simon Stone’s adaptation of Lorca’s play which moves the setting to contemporary London and how this impacts on an audience’s understanding of and sympathy for the central character. • The design of the production and how it reflects the characters’ physical and psychological states. • The role of women and mothers in drama across a number of different productions including Medea, Antigone, Hamlet and The Deep Blue Sea.
There are a number of other productions in the National Theatre Collection that relate to this one, which you and your students may wish to explore alongside it.
Other 20th century classics
Production Date Playwright Director The Deep Blue Sea 2016 Terence Rattigan Carrie Cracknell
Les Blancs 2013 Lorraine Hansberry Yaël Farber The Cherry Orchard 2011 Anton Chekhov Howard Davies
3 Yerma − Learning Pack Teaching Information
Other productions of re-imagined classic plays
Production Date Playwright Director One Man, Two Guvnors 2014 Richard Bean Josie Rourke
Other productions featuring members of the same creative team
Production Date Artist
Treasure Island 2014 Lizzie Clachan - Designer Twelfth Night 2017 James Farncombe - Lighting Designer
4 Yerma − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis
Differences to Lorca's original
Simon Stone updated Lorca’s Spanish play to set it in modern day London. Many of the original themes of honour, religion, nature and gender roles are updated for a modern setting. • The character of Yerma is simply ‘Her’ in Stone’s version. • Yerma’s anxiety about bearing a child in the original is catalysed by societal pressures of strict Christian morals. By staging his adaptation in a more secular modern day London, Stone’s central character internalises her obsession with having a child. • Spanish names from the original are updated to English versions: Juan-John, María-Mary, Víctor-Victor. • Various characters from the original: Dolores, the two sisters-in-law, the Old Woman, and six washerwomen are cut. • Mary is Her's sister in Stone’s version. • Stone created the characters of Helen (Her’s mother) and Des (Her’s friend). • There are various plot changes, including Her and Victor being forced to sell their house, and Victor leaving Her. • In the final scene, Stone’s central character kills herself rather than her husband.
Chapter 1 “Conception”: John and Her celebrate moving into their new home together. They joke about their relationship and their sex life and agree to try for a baby.
Scene 1.2 (0:08:49): Her’s mother (Helen) and sister (Mary) help move her things into the new house. They talk about how Mary’s husband has been cheating on her for years but she is now two months pregnant with his child.
Scene 1.3 (0:11:50): John has returned from a trip. John and Her talk about their sex life again. John suggests trying role play which she
5 Yerma − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis
objects to. They have a small argument and John goes to bed early.
Scene 1.4 (0:15:25): Her bumps into Victor, and ex-boyfriend she hasn’t seen for 10 years but has just started a job at her place of work.
She is slightly dismissive about her relationship with Victor and surprised to find out Victor has a 2 year old child.
Scene 1.5 (0:19:50): Her is with her friend Des discussing Her’s new blog about trying for a baby. It is revealed Her got pregnant many years ago with Victor’s baby and had an abortion.
Scene 1.6 (0:23:52): Her and Helen talk about pregnancy and having children; Helen was an unaffectionate mother who barely hugged her daughters.
Chapter 2 “Disillusion” (0:28:05): Her is babysitting for Mary’s child and clearly loving the experience of caring for a baby. Mary resents the fact
6 Yerma − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis
the child was well behaved for Her, calling him a ‘little bastard’ and swearing in front of him. She jokes about giving him to Her. Her has been trying for 2 years to get pregnant, and Mary suggests John is perhaps being unfaithful.
Scene 2.2 (0:35:40): Her is having drinks with Victor when John comes back from a trip. Her wants to drink more but Victor has to leave to look after his daughter.
Chapter 3 “Moratorium” (0:39:14): Her and John have just got married; Her says she’s going to take up gardening. John tells Her Mary is pregnant again but Mary is too scared to tell her. Her imagines the child they have, fantasising about having a son.
Scene 3.2 (0:47:10): Mary visits Her while she’s gardening, and tells her she’s had a miscarriage.
Scene 3.3 (0:49:05): Her and Des talk about the recent success of the blog, buoyed by the story of Mary’s miscarriage.
7 Yerma − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis
Scene 3.4 (0:50:50): John confronts Her about the blog. He’s angry and embarrassed that intimate details of their relationship are online. Her turns it on him, claiming he isn’t around and willing to try for a baby properly. He promises to try harder and agrees to go to the doctor to be checked. Her refuses to stop the blog, angering John.
Scene 3.5 (0:55:20): Her is panicking and asked Victor to come over to help. John has disappeared and not answering his phone after their argument. Her confesses she wrote about Victor in her blog, implying in a positive manner. Her asks Victor to stay, implying she wants him to impregnate her as she knows he can. He refuses and leaves.
Chapter 4 “Reality” (0:58:49): Her and Mary are in the garden. Her has started losing grip on reality - taking pregnancy yoga and eating ‘fertility friendly breakfast’ while refusing to attend parties with other children there. John is away, his whereabouts unclear.
Scene 4.2 (1:03:10): John returns home very late and drunk. John confesses he kissed someone from work and spent the night her. He has his test results back from the doctor.
8 Yerma − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis
Chapter 5 “Deception” (1:05:02): Helen has come over to look after Her while John goes away. John and Her are on their fourth round of IVF treatment. The issue is apparently with Her’s eggs as John’s sperm is healthy. Helen suggests adoption but John says Her won’t consider it. John says Her has been in trouble with police for loitering by playgrounds and watching mothers with children.
Scene 5.2 (1:08:58): Her and Victor are in the garden, where Her’s tree is failing to grow. Victor tells Her he is moving to Hong Kong tomorrow with his daughter and new girlfriend.
Scene 5.3 (1:13:25): Her refuses to give John her credit card saying ‘it’s my money too’. John reveals they have no more money and can’t make payments on the mortgage. Their 12 rounds of IVF have crippled them financially. John suggests adoption but Her says her arms would ‘fall off’ if she held another person’s child. She refuses to stop, saying she’ll get a donor if need be.
Chapter 6 “Descent” (1:18:46): Her leaves to a music festival, descending into a crazed binge of alcohol, parties and sex with strangers.
9 Yerma − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis
Des confronts her and tries to slow her down but she refuses. John tries to find her, Mary tells him Her has been fired from work. Her meets strangers at the festival she mistakes for Victor, John and Helen. She has sex with the fake Victor and tries to seduce the fake John who refuses. Des finds her and takes her home.
Scene 6.2 (1:26:12): Her returns home sodding wet with her dress on backwards. John tells her she's been fired from work. John has everything packed - they have sold the house and he's leaving her. She confronts him, claiming he never wanted to have a child. She pulls a knife, threatening to kill him. He leaves.
Scene 6.3 (1:31:46): Alone and hysterical, Her stabs herself muttering about no more wondering. If her son won’t come to her, she’ll come to him.
The End
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