I AM THOMAS A brutal comedy with songs Teacher’s Resource Pack Contents I Am Thomas credits and tour dates 3 Information on Told by an Idiot 4 Introduction 5 Synopsis 6 Classroom exercise 1: Reflecting on the production 7 Historical Context: Thomas Aikenhead 8 Classroom exercise 2: Exploring censorship through theatre 9 Classroom exercise 3: Warm up exercises for ensembles 10 Discussion: Paul Hunter, Iain Johnstone and Simon Armitage 13 Historical context: Scotland in the 17th & 18th Centuries 14 Classroom exercise 4: Pastiche & Parody 15 A Day in The Life of An Assistant Director 18 Paul Hunter, director, talks about the rehearsal process 20 Classroom exercise 5: Storytelling with music 21 Classroom exercise 6: Designing the world of the play 22 Bibliography & links 25 Credits & tour details WORLD PREMIERE Told by an Idiot, National Theatre Scotland and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in association with Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse present I Am Thomas - A brutal comedy with songs Written by Told by an Idiot Cast John Cobb Charlie Folorunsho Paul Hunter Director Amanda Hadingue Iain Johnstone Composer Iain Johnstone Simon Armitage Lyrics Myra McFayden Laura Hopkins Designer Hannah McPake Adrienne Quartly Sound Designer Dominic Marsh Paul Anderson Lighting Designer John Pfumojena TOUR DATES Liverpool Playhouse (19 - 27 February 2016) The Lyceum, Edinburgh (23 March - 09 April 2016) The Lowry, Salford (1 - 5 March 2016) One Touch, Eden Court Theatre, Inverness (12-16 April 2016) Salisbury Playhouse (8 - 12 March 2016) Wilton’s Music Hall (20-30 April 2016) 3 "We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing" George Bernard Shaw Founded in 1993, Told by an idiot has established an international reputation for its comic, innovative and startlingly original productions, revelling in a style of theatre that is bigger than life. Recent collaborators include the National Theatre, the Barbican, the RSC and the National Theatres of Scotland and Wales. Our participation programme is called Taught by an Idiot. Our Taught by an Idiot participation opportunities mirror our work on stage. They are anarchic, spon- taneous and accessible to the widest possible audience with no regard to age, ethnicity, ability or training. If you are a Teacher, University or Drama School prac- titioner we can work with you to create a bespoke Idiot workshop for your students tailored to your teaching objectives. "Told by and idiot are the most exciting, enthralling and energising presence in British Theatre" Carol Ann Duffy, Poet Laureate "(A model) which should be rolled out as an example of excellence...The students found the experience to be exhilarating and empowering" Head of Creative Arts, Leeds City College "(The Comedy of Errors) was brilliant. I'd give it a 10 out of 10. There's too many words to describe it." Joshua, aged 12 We offer: Workshops, projects and events available for Key Stages 2 - 5 and higher edu- cation groups Participatory experiences for students and young people designed to encour- age creativity and discovery Free education packs created for each of our productions Created in line with curriculum requirements with cross-curriculum links with English, PHSCE and other subjects We are a proud Arts Award Supporter To discuss an idea, project or workshop, please contact us on: T: 020 7407 4123 E: [email protected] www.toldbyanidiot.org/taught Twitter: @toldbyanidiot93 Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Told-by-an-Idiot/ 4 Credits & tour details The resources, research and information in this study pack are intended to enhance your understanding of I Am Thomas – a brutal comedy with songs and to provide you with the materials to assist students in gaining a deeper understanding of this exciting new play. This includes political and historical context, production photographs, discussion points and exercises that have been devised to unpack the play’s themes and stylistic devices. In line with the national curriculum, I Am Thomas – a brutal comedy with songs would be a suitable live thea- tre production for analysis. It will also provide an inval- uable resource for students who are focusing on de- vised, collaborative theatre, ensemble work, music the- atre and productions based on political and social jus- tice issues. I Am Thomas – a brutal comedy with songs tackles the challenges of researching, presenting and understand- ing social, historical, political and philosophical issues in an accessible and creative way. The play will provoke students to ask pertinent questions and think critically. If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate Photographer: Manuel Harlan. Photograph taken in rehearsal a the Copperfield Rehearsal Rooms SE1 to get in touch with Amanda Castro on 0208 743 3584 or at [email protected] 5 Scene by Scene Synopsis We open in 1696, in the remote Scottish countryside. The Two At the end of the night, the rather inebriated Thomas and Mungo Margarets refused to swear an oath declaring James VII as head of head to the ‘chip shop’ where they queue up to order behind the the church, and as such, are taken to the sea and drowned. Stasi. With fish suppers in hand, they leave the shop and the Stasi follow. They both fall asleep when they return home. The Stasi We switch to the present, where Councillors meet to discuss which enter the flat and look through Thomas’ things. They find cas- son of Edinburgh will be immortalised as a statue on a vacant settes and records to use as evidence in calling Thomas to trial. plinth of the North Bridge. Names are thrown into the mix, Dolly the Sheep, Archie Gemmill and finally when accepting Gemmill is We see the Lord Advocate Stewart listening in to Thomas being neither from Edinburgh or deceased, Thomas Aikenhead is interrogated by the Stasi. The Stasi advise Thomas to repent, but brought to their attention by the Heron. explains that he has not done anything wrong, he spoke the truth as he saw it. Stewart explains that he was once ‘a fugitive’ like Back to 1696, and Thomas Aikenhead is in the middle of perform- Thomas, and begins to interview him on tape, showing him evi- ing a gig at the Tron Kirk. As his music partner Mungo arrives late, dence of his blasphemous performances. Aikenhead takes it upon himself to perform a solo gig. Thomas sings ‘Telescope’ as Mungo films him and confides in the audience Mungo appears in the witness box with Stuart cross-examining that Thomas needs bringing ‘down a peg or two’. Still in 1696, we him about Thomas. When Stuart confirms Thomas will get the are inside a church. The congregation bow their heads in prayer death sentence, Mungo is extremely shocked. Thomas is waiting in and Thomas enters in a rush. Thomas is scolded and does ‘the walk his cell, in a fevered state, it’s cold and he is alone, awaiting his of shame’ walking down the aisle of the church in front of the execution. Thomas signs his repentance, and the three wise men, whole congregation. as lawyers, hand Stewart the signed repent. At the Wrong Place Inn, Mungo and Thomas are talking about Back in the Courtroom, Stewart appeals for Aikenhead’s life. The Thomas’ performance a few days earlier. Thomas tells Mungo of Law, the Church, and The King are all there. As his appeal is not his new song ‘about religion being a rhapsody of feigned and ill- accepted, Thomas is marched to the scaffold, Thomas's journey invented nonsense’. Mungo warns him about playing this to an echoing the Stations of the Cross. At one point Thomas stumbles audience before Thomas gets up on stage and sings ‘The Wrong and is helped up by one of the town councillors and he watches the Place’. As Thomas is performing, the Stasi appears and meet Mun- unveiling of the statue. Thomas is hanged. go, who tells them of Thomas’ untoward claims about religion. 30 pieces of silver are exchanged, and the song continues. 6 Classroom Exercise 1: Reflecting on the production Curriculum links: Drama, Art & Design, Music Use this exercise to get your students responding to work that they have seen onstage. This tool enables Length of exercise: 15-20 minutes students to respond to any piece or dance, theatre Space needed: Can be done in the classroom or live performance that they have seen. Materials needed: Flipchart paper and pens Organise the class into groups of 4 or 5 and give each group a Each group should write their chosen area of the large sheet of paper and some pens. Write the name of the production as a heading on their flip chart paper. Each production on the whiteboard, then assign each group an area of group then has five minutes to brainstorm thoughts and the production to explore including: comments around their assigned area of the production, noting them in a spider diagram on their flip chart paper. After five minutes, each group must pass their paper onto the next group and repeat this process until every group Set and staging Music and sound has commented on all areas of the production listed by the class. These sheets can then be photocopied and handed Directing Acting out. You could also put the sheets up in the classroom for Costume Themes of the play inspiration when discussing the production. 7 Historical Context: Thomas Aikenhead This production was inspired by a mixture of fact and fantasy. We have not always felt it important to be historically faithful in our production; however, a close understanding of the historical context has informed our work throughout the process of creating the show. Thomas Aikenhead was a Scottish student from Edinburgh, who was prosecuted and executed on a charge of blasphemy.