The Deep Blue Sea − Learning Pack Contents

About This Pack...... 1

Background Information...... 2

Teaching Information ...... 3

Plot Synopsis with Timecodes ...... 4

Find Out More ...... 10

1 The Deep Blue Sea − Learning Pack

About

This learning pack supports the National Theatre’s production of The Deep Blue Sea, directed by Carrie Cracknell, which opened on 9th June 2016 at the National’s Lyttelton Theatre 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 The Deep Blue Sea − Learning Pack Background Information Recording Date – 1st September, 2016 Location – Lyttelton Theatre, National Theatre Age Recommendation – 12+ (references to suicide)

Cast

Mrs Elton ...... Marion Bailey Philip Welch ...... Hubert Burton Ann Welch ...... Yolanda Kettle Hester Collyer ...... Helen McCrory Mr Miller ...... Nick Fletcher William Collyer ...... Peter Sullivan Freddie Page ...... Tom Burke Jackie Jackson ...... Adetomiwa Edun

Creative Team

Director ...... Carrie Cracknell Writer ...... Terence Rattigan Designer ...... Tom Scutt Lighting Designer ...... Guy Hoare Music...... Stuart Earl Movement Director ...... Polly Bennett Sound Designer ...... Peter Rice Fight Director ...... Kate Waters

2 The Deep Blue Sea − Learning Pack Teaching Information

This production is particularly suitable for:

• Students studying 20th century drama • Students studying the work of Terence Rattigan

In particular you might like to explore:

• The social, historical and cultural context of the play and its relevance to a contemporary audience. • How the music and sound design contribute to our understanding of the world of the play and the characters’ psychological states. • Helen McCrory’s performance in this production alongside her performance in Carrie Cracknell’s production of Medea.

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 Cherry Orchard 2011 Anton Chekhov Howard Davies

Les Blancs 2016 Lorraine Hansberry Yaël Farber Yerma 2017 Federico García Lorca Simon Stone

Other productions featuring members of the same creative team

Production Date Artist

Medea 2014 Carrie Cracknell - Director Medea 2014 Tom Scutt - Designer

3 The Deep Blue Sea − Learning Pack Plot Synopsis With Timecodes

The action takes place during the course of a day in September in the sitting-room of a furnished flat in North-West London in the 1950s.

Act One: Philip and Ann Welch and the landlady Mrs Elton enter Hester Page’s flat to find her collapsed in front of the fireplace following a gas leak. They discover an empty bottle of aspirin, implying it was a suicide attempt. Mr Miller enters and begins treating her; she starts to recover. Hester didn’t put a shilling in the gas meter, meaning it cut out before she suffocated. Ann finds a suicide note addressed to Freddie Page, whom Philip and Ann presume is her husband. Mrs Elton says Freddie is not her husband and that her real surname is Collyer; she is married to Justice William Collyer. Philip calls Collyer informing him of the suicide attempt.

(0:12:54) Hester enters claiming the whole thing was an accident, and retrieves the suicide note. Philip tells her he contacted Collyer who is on his way. The Welches leave.

(0:17:25) Hester calls Mrs Elton, asking her to not allow Collyer to see

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her. They discuss the suicide attempt; Hester says it was a moment of desperation, she was 'caught between the devil and the deep blue sea'. Collyer arrives and Hester allows him to enter. Collyer questions her about the living situation. Freddie and Hester recently returned from Ottawa where Freddie was a successful test pilot. He is now unemployed but Hester denies this is the reason she tried to kill herself, simply putting it down to 'shame at being alive'. They cheerily reminisce, before Hester reveals she doesn't believe Freddie loves her, and never did, while she loves him desperately. Collyer offers her money but she refuses.

(0:27:16) Mr Miller re-enters to assess Hester. Collyer pays him to keep his discretion and Miller exits. Hester and Collyer make arrangements for Collyer to return at 5pm and he leaves. Alone, Hester slowly walks around the flat and lies on the floor.

(0:32:12) Freddie enters, dumping his bags and golf clubs in the hallway. Hester doesn’t look at him while Freddie insincerely apologies for not returning yesterday, before remembering it is Hester’s birthday. Hester’s mood suddenly changes when he makes her look at him, and they kiss passionately until Freddie pulls away. Freddie has a meeting with a man called Lopez about a potential job later, but offers to take her out for a birthday drink first, which fill Hester with excitement. While Hester dresses, Freddie discovers the suicide note in her pocket and storms out of the flat.

5 The Deep Blue Sea − Learning Pack Plot Synopsis With Timecodes

Act Two (0:40:30): Later that day Freddie and his friend Jackie discuss the note over a bottle of liquor. Freddie is unsympathetic and puts the suicide attempt entirely down to him forgetting Hester’s birthday. He is oblivious to any issues in their relationship, saying he thought they were stronger than ever. He reveals he was offered a job as a test pilot in South America, but he’d rather something more domestic where he can drink. Freddie is reading the suicide note to Jackie as Hester enters. She takes the letter from him and rips it up. It is nearly 5pm and knowing Collyer is going to arrive soon, Hester tries to suggest Freddie leave. Once Hester’s left the room Freddie confesses that he doesn’t love her, and that her love for him is a burden.

(0:52:38) Mr Miller knocks at the door to check on Hester. Freddie, now drunk, begins interrogating Miller, who bluntly suggests Freddie is the cause for Hester’s misery. Hester returns, and seeing Freddie drunk tries to make him stay, but he now insists on leaving. Before going he leaves a shilling on the table, cruelly informing Hester ‘in case I’m late

6 The Deep Blue Sea − Learning Pack Plot Synopsis With Timecodes

for dinner’. Miller, while somewhat blunt, offers Hester sympathy, and agrees on her bequest to go after Freddie and keep him company while drunk.

(0:57:57) Collyer arrives, saying he saw the drunk Freddie as he arrived, but Hester defends Freddie, saying his drinking is her fault. She confesses the intensity of her love for Freddie, saying he is the ‘whole of life and of death’. They reminisce again, and Hester reveals how Freddie used to envy Collyer’s success. Collyer suggests Hester needs to overcome her infatuation to Freddie. She agrees, but says it’s impossible.

(1:05:27) Freddie suddenly returns and interrogates Collyer on whether he still loves Hester before storming into the next room. Alone, Collyer admits to Hester he does still love her, before leaving.

(1:07:54) Freddie re-enters dressed in a suit, saying he is going to meet Lopez about the potential job. They passionately kiss until Freddie breaks it off again. He tells her he is accepting the job in South America

7 The Deep Blue Sea − Learning Pack Plot Synopsis With Timecodes

and going alone, telling her that while he has fondness, he doesn’t love her and is leaving tonight. This sends Hester into a panicked hysteria, and she pleads for him to stay one more night. He leaves hurriedly.

Interval

Act Three (1:14:46): Late that evening, Hester is in the flat alone. First Mrs Elton comes to the door, and then Ann, who is looking for her husband. Phillip is out drinking at a club with Freddie and hasn’t come home. She leaves. Hester immediately begins calling the club to track Freddie down but he has already left. They discuss Mr Miller, and Mrs Elton reveals he used to be a doctor but was struck off and spent time in jail.

(1:24:46) Mr Miller enters as Mrs Elton leaves. Mr Miller gives her pills to help her sleep. He fervently insists to her to ‘go on living’.

(1:26:04) Collyer suddenly enters, and Mr Miller leaves. Collyer has a letter Freddie left for him explaining he’s leaving. Collyer suggests Hester stay with the Justice and maintains his love for her. They kiss, and she admits they were once happy but refuses to leave. Collyer exits.

(1:33:16) Peter enters to collect Freddie’s suitcase. He defends Freddie’s situation, comparing Hester’s situation to a circumstance where he had to give up a mistress. Hester tricks Peter into telling her where Freddie is and locks him in the flat while she calls the club. She desperately tries to convince him to let her see him one last time but he hangs up. Peter leaves with Freddie’s things.

(1:42:02) Alone again, Hester puts Freddie’s shilling in the gas meter, locks the door and places a rug in front of the door. She puts on music, turns on the gas and closes the windows. She lies in front of the fireplace as Mr Miller knocks on the door. She quickly opens the window and goes to the door. Miller takes the sleeping pills off her and throws them

8 The Deep Blue Sea − Learning Pack Plot Synopsis With Timecodes

away as she starts sobbing. Miller encourages her to learn to live even without hope or purpose, as he does; she must find reason to respect herself. He encourages her to return to her painting.

(1:49:46) Freddie suddenly returns. They talk about his trip, and Hester says she intends to return to art school. They kiss briefly before Hester turns away and says goodbye. He tries to take her in his arms but she stops him. He leaves, and she sobs to herself. She fries an egg, and finds Freddie’s jacket, which she holds tight in her arms, crying. She eats the egg in the dark, and her face changes to a suddenly determined look.

The End

9 The Deep Blue Sea − Learning Pack

Find out more

Watch

Part One of our two-part series on the work of Terence Rattigan

Part Two of our two-part series on the work of Terence Rattigan

Listen

Helen McCrory in discussion about the play

Explore

More materials relating to the production including the costume bible, costume designs, prompt scripts, programme, stage management reports and more are held at the National Theatre Archive, which is free to visit. Find out more here: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/archive

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