Hard to Swallow – Easy to Digest by Mark Wheeller: Deep Dive into the text with the author

• Focus on opportunities to gain a deep knowledge of how the script came to be, for your examination
• Equip you with strategies originally used to create the play
• Take away approaches that excite you and cultivate a deeper understanding of the form and raise grades in your exams
• Effective ideas to ensure you can apply this approach to their own devised work.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

• Drama students particularly those using Hard to Swallow as a set text in the Eduqas GCSE specification
• B Tec Performing Arts/Drama

PROGRAMME

4.00 – 4.05pm Welcome and Introduction

Session 1: How to teach Verbatim Theatre effectively:

Mark will offer the first hand account of how Hard to Swallow came to be. He will describe:

• the events that inspired the idea of the play and the theatrical/musical influences that contributed to the play as it emerged and developed
• how Mark and OYT developed the first script and the initial version, Catherine.
• a definitive explanation the importance of the Billy Goats Scenes
• how Hard To Swallow was developed, the staging, the set and the performances at the National Theatre
• the two professional productions – StopWatch (1990) and Tie It Up Theatre Company (2017- present day)
• To discuss ethics, research and drafting as this play was developed

Session 2: Practical exercises for teachers to use in class to maximize results:

• Take away exercises to use to revise

4.50 -5.00pm: Session 3: Q and A with Mark Wheeller