Parliament Square Subjects, Particularly Drama, History and PSHE
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
EXPLORING BLACK HISTORY THROUGH THEATRE- EDUCATION PACK EXPLORING I N T R O D U C T I O N : BLACK HISTORY Black History Month and Beyond... THROUGH THEATRE- For generations, countless people from the African diaspora have been shaping the UK’s story. While we celebrate our Black community all year round at Bush Theatre, Black History Month is EDUCATION PACK an important moment to acknowledge this contribution. The resources, research and information in this education pack are intended to not only enhance your understanding during Cross-Curricular: Drama and Theatre Studies, English Language, Black History month, but also to support curriculum learning and critical thinking throughout the English Literature, History, Politics and PSHE year. For Key Stages 4 & 5 The pack offers a focus on Black History, activism and people through a theatre perspective, with CONTENTS: a focus on previous Bush Theatre productions and current artists in our community. It includes Introduction synopsis from the following shows: Perseverance Drive (2014), The Royale (2016), Parliament Perseverance Drive Square (2017) and Misty (2018) with political context, production photography, discussion points Context and exercises that have been devised to provoke students to ask pertinent questions, think Exercise 1 critically, and develop perspective and judgement. The Royale Context Exercise 2 This pack is suitable for Key Stages 3 & 4 and can be used all year round to support curriculum Parliament Square subjects, particularly Drama, History and PSHE. We are also offering Black History workshops Context throughout the year in schools. Exercise 3 Misty Context If you have any further questions or would like to request a workshop, please don’t hesitate to Exercise 4 get in touch with the Bush Theatre Community Team on 020 8743 3584 or at Today [email protected] Overview Exercise 5 Resources, Links & Contacts P E R S E V E R A N C E D R I V E B Y R O B I N S O A N S SYNOPSIS: In the heat of the Caribbean sun and to the familiar sound of gospel hymns, the Gillard family prepares for the funeral of their mother Grace. Tensions ignite as Josh, cast out for being gay, arrives in Barbados after 6 years of excommunication. Widowed Eli wants to sell the family home on Perseverance Drive, but Grace’s will reveals a different plan. London, 4 years later. The table is set with Tiger Malt, lashings of Madeira cake and chocolate digestives (milk, not dark). Secrets are exposed at this last family gathering but Eli knows time is running out: Can the Gillard family reconcile their faith in God with their faith in one another? Exploring the joys and frustrations of loving our loved ones, Perseverance Drive tells an epic family story that stretches from the sunny shores of Barbados to the grey skies of Leytonstone. P E R S E V E R A N C E D R I V E The arrival of the SS Empire Windrush in 1948 not only marked the beginning of Post War CONTEXT: MIGRATING TO BRITAIN Commonwealth mass immigration, but became a symbol for the entire movement, with immigrants becoming dubbed the ‘Windrush Generation.’ Along with many other Caribbean nations, Barbados was once part of the British Empire. Between 1627 and 1966 the Island was under British rule, and it still retains some aspects A decade later and in response to continued labour shortages following the Second World of 'British' identity today. Barbados is often referred to as ‘Little England’ by both its War, London Transport had to look way beyond Britain's capital to keep London moving. inhabitants and its neighbours. Introduced during British colonial rule, one of the island At the invitation of the Barbados Government, it began a recruitment drive in the nation's most popular pastimes is playing cricket. The result of the close bond between the Caribbean in February 1956. As a result, many thousands of people made the decision to two nations is that the UK proves the most popular destination for Barbadian immigrants. emigrate from the Caribbean to Britain and begin a new life working on London’s public transport system. The history of immigration between the Caribbean and Britain stretches back to The direct recruits from Barbados were met on the 16th century, as a result of the Atlantic arrival and taken to temporary accommodation close to Slave trade. It wasn’t until World War One their workplace in London. Some Caribbean men and when this process became greatly accelerated, with Caribbean presence in women had served in Britain in the armed forces during the British military leading to the Second World War, but younger immigrants approximately 15,000 migrants arriving in were not prepared for the climatic and cultural the North West of England to work in differences they encountered. Many recruits found munitions factories. London a cold and unwelcoming place, where they faced discrimination in finding accommodation and work. This trend continued as a result of losses during Second World War, when the British They often were forced to accept jobs that they were vastly government began to encourage mass immigration from the countries of the British Empire overqualified for and reside in overcrowded living conditions. and Commonwealth to fill shortages in the labour market. The 1948 British Nationality Act gave British citizenship to all people living in Commonwealth countries, and full rights of Watch the 'Saluting the Windrush Generation' video to hear entry and settlement in Britain. about what life was like for Carribbean migrants at that time from those who lived it. P E R S E V E R A N C E D R I V E CONTEXT: MIGRATING TO BRITAIN Caribbean immigrants soon founded their own communities. Newcomers to London joined local churches or established new congregations. Clubs and blues dances were popular meeting places for some while others found friendship and support through their work and social activities. In the 1970s and 1980s, a period of deep recession and widespread unemployment affected the economically less prosperous African-Caribbean community severely. Societal racism, discrimination, poverty, powerlessness and oppressive policing sparked a series of riots in areas with substantial African-Caribbean populations. These took place in St Pauls, Brixton, Notting Hill Gate, Brixton and Tottenham. Today the influence of African-Caribbean culture is felt across London where art, food, music and language are celebrated. One of the best examples of this is Notting Hill Carnival, set up by two women: Rhaune Laslett and Claudia Jones in the 1960s. The carnival stands out as the biggest event in London’s cultural scene and brings communities together to celebrate Caribbean heritage, art and culture, and is attended by over two million Londoners and tourists each year. Windrush Generation today When the Windrush boat arrived in the UK, migrants onboard were automatically given British citizenship and the right to live in Britain. However in 2017, reports emerged that hundreds of people from the Windrush generation were being detained and deported. It sparked outrage across the nation and showed the staggering level of discrimination still imbedded in the British immigration system. P E R S E V E R A N C E D R I V E EXERCISE 1: Shareback & Discussions. Questions to pose to your students: Classroom Exercise: Writing in Character 1.What were your chosen sentences and why did they speak to you as a group? Curriculum Links: Drama, English, History 2. How did your scene and how can art and Resources: Highlighters or pens, paper, theatre represent this history in a way that internet access connects to us today? Time: 30 minutes 3. Why do you think it’s important to learn about these events? What does it teach us going forward? Share with the class the short video, 'Saluting the Windrush Generation'. Further Activities: Ask the group to research, or share information about In small groups, ask students to read the information about ‘Caribbean the Windrush Scandal 2017. Pose the question: ‘Do you think things are Immigration To Britain’. Using a highlighter, ask them to highlight a couple of better, the same or worse off for the Windrush generation and their sentences which provoke a strong or particular feeling for them as the reader and communities today?’ Write your own opinion to this question and the as a group, and discuss why. reasons why you think this way in the form of a free writing exercise, poem or a letter of appeal for positive change to the government. Each group will then create a scene - this could be a frozen picture, a movement sequence or an improvised scene including some dialogue - using the chosen sentences as stimulus. T H E R O Y A L E B Y M A R C O R A M I R E Z SYNOPSIS: Jay ‘The Sport’ Jackson dreams of being the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. But it’s 1905 and, in the racially segregated world of boxing, his chances are as good as knocked out. When a boxing promoter hatches a plan for the ‘Fight of the Century’, The Sport might land a place in the ring with the reigning white heavyweight champion, but at what cost? It’s not just a retired champ he’s facing, it’s ‘The Great White Hope’. In daring to realise his dream, is Jay responsible for putting African American lives in the danger zone? Told in six rounds and set in a boxing ring, The Royale is inspired by the often overlooked story of Jack Johnson, a boxer who – at the height of the Jim Crow era – became the most famous and the most notorious Black man on Earth.