Plenary Suggestions

There is a wealth of historical material about social conditions in the eighteenth century and their impact on young people which are available on Stagework. These include petitions from mothers desperate to get their children admitted into the Coram Hospital. The documents as well as the events staged in the play will provide useful stimuli for discussion about contemporary issues of interest to young people including being a carer, adoption, modern day slavery, and child abuse. Music is important both in the play and in its performance. Teachers may wish to encourage students to watch and listen to the interviews on Stagework with those responsible for creating and playing the music as well as by listening to some of that great choral music from Handle’s ‘Messiah’ that the production uses to such good effect.