Secondary Catalogue

Willy Russell’s ‘Blood Brothers’ chronicles the social circumstances that lead two brothers to tragedy. Although set in the 1960s and 70s, the musical reflects the social issues and attitudes of the time the play was written in the early 1980s. This video examines the historical and social context of the musical and provides a valuable accompaniment to Senior English students studying the film. Show Less

Alan Bennett’s 'The History Boys' is set in 1983, a time when England was rife with class conflict and political reform. This video examines the events and tensions that inform Bennett’s play, from the changing roles of teachers to the social attitudes towards the gay community. It provides a valuable accompaniment to Senior English students studying The History Boys. Show Less

England in the mid-80s was a time of widespread industrial action and social unrest. Striking miners picketed for their jobs, while the gay community fought for their rights. This video explores the historical events and changing social attitudes and gender roles that inform the film ‘Billy Elliot’. It provides a valuable accompaniment to Senior English students studying the film. Show Less

This video explores the basic concept of sentence structure. Gil T. Mann is very close to learning the result of his court trial. The sentence structures contained in his written statement will determine whether he is found guilty, or just plain Gil T. Learners from secondary school age up to adulthood will benefit from this humorous exploration of simple, complex, and run-on sentences, and the value of the humble conjunction. Show Less

Learners can struggle with conjugation and tense agreement. It all sounds like utter linguistic jargon to Gil T. Mann. But these are actually core grammar concepts we use every day when writing English. Gil quickly learns the importance of matching the number of nouns with the correct conjugation of a verb, as well as using consistent verb tenses to get his meaning across on the stand. Will he learn quickly enough to get himself out of trouble? Show Less

This video explores basic grammar questions for learners: When should you use a comma? How do you use quotation marks in your writing to show someone else is speaking? And what on earth is the difference between a colon and a semi-colon, anyway?! Many learners from secondary school age up to adult struggle with these basic grammar concepts. Gil T. Mann shares the same frustrations as he fumbles his way through his written defence statement in court. Will he be able to correctly punctuate his innocence? Show Less

'May Your Pen Grace the Page', written and performed by Luka Lesson. May your pen grace the page at the same pace as your brain May your grey matter From now on No longer be grey May you mean every word that you say And may writing your lines Be the way that you pray Get up Step up Never let up Get your setup Set up Get recording Get stories pouring Ignoring your calling and calling you ‘boring’ Is boring You need to be touring What are you doing - you’re basically stewing No space for day dreaming No place for that feeling No place for pacing the building or facing the ceiling There’s no way that it is dealing Your brain it is stealing And there will be no change to you And there’ll never be any change to that ceiling I’m basically feeling that art isn’t hard What's hard is your heart And it starts in the past, but the past’s in the past So love who you are Pass a rush of blood till your arteries blast And let the blood rush to your arm and let your artistry start May your pen express upon the page every feeling you’re in May your white page – Yang Love your black pen – Yin May the ball in your ball point roll ‘cause that’s the point of the ball And if we can’t make our points then what’s the point of it all? May the lead in your lead-pencil lead you astray We spell it L-E-A-D ‘cause we’ve made leaders this way And I know it’s hard but easy to say But I mean what I say When I say: “Mean what you say” Potentially my pencil be the deftest thing you’ve ever seen Adept at expressing everything that you’ve never seen Especially when you question me My pencil, man, she gets to me She comes to me and comforts me and takes me out to lunch You see We have a cup of coffee Before I know it she’s on top of me She rocking and she’s rolling me We’re touching uncontrollably She likes to switch the roles on me I'm writing with her But she is writing with me It's my life as I desire to be It’s only right that she’s my wife 2B She takes me to her bed of white We try it in the dead of night Pages till we get it right We make love between the sheets May your pen grace the page at the same pace as your brain May your grey matter From now on No longer be grey May you mean every word that you say And may writing your lines be the way that you pray Show Less

'The Tempest', not only Shakespeare’s final play, also his shortest, unfolds before the audience in real time. This video explores a range of dramatic techniques employed, including its structure based around the three unities, exposition, Caliban’s surprising use of verse, soliloquy, Prospero’s frequent asides – even early versions of special effects. An outstanding resource for middle to senior level students of English and Literature. Show Less

Two key characters in 'The Tempest' are Prospero and Caliban. This video explores the relationship between the dominating, magical ruler of the island and his slave, who is dismissed by some as a monster. But both are very complex and conflicted characters, and central to the play’s themes and sub-texts. Middle to senior level students of English and Literature will find this an engaging and informative resource. Show Less

Power is a theme Shakespeare visits throughout 'The Tempest'. This video probes that theme – including Prospero’s supernatural powers and yearning to resume his dukedom, Antonio’s power base in Milan, the murder plot to make Sebastian king of Naples, and more. It also reflects on the personal costs of having power, and surrendering it. Ideal for students of middle to senior level Literature and English. Show Less

Shakespeare was at the height of his success when he wrote The Tempest. This video reveals aspects of the playwright’s life and times that influenced the work, including the ‘discovery’ of new worlds by colonial powers. It also examines the origin and relevance of the masque in Act 4. It is an excellent resource for middle to senior level students of English and Literature. Show Less

A big reason why Pride and Prejudice is considered such an outstanding literary work revolves around the writing style and literary techniques employed by Jane Austen. This programme examines various techniques including her comprehensive use of dialogue, irony and her authorial voice. It gives students of English and Literature a deeper understanding of one of the key literary aspects of this classic novel. Show Less

Jane Austen created a fascinating and engaging range of characters in Pride and Prejudice. This video analyses the character and function of the story’s witty, high-spirited heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, her interactions with the other characters and the complexity of personality traits that make this romantic novel a true classic. It is an engaging and powerful learning resource for students of English and Literature. Show Less

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice carries a number of themes that are just as prevalent in our lives today as they were in Regency era England. This video explores some of those themes, including pride, love, wealth and prejudice, and how they play out in the lives of the novel’s main characters. It is an excellent resource for students of English and Literature. Show Less

When Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice, women authors were frowned upon. So what inspired her to create such a timeless literary masterpiece? This programme explores Austen’s life and the context in which she wrote about social complexities in Regency England. This informative resource provides students of English and Literature with a useful insight into the life and times of Jane Austen. Show Less

Dubious casting? Methinks not… Portia the witty chameleon, her suitor Bassanio who’s indebted to his besty Antonio, the merchant and debtor of Shylock who is…well…played by the director who’s out to upstage his brother Trevor – what could go wrong? This programme profiles Shakespeare’s complex characters in The Merchant of Venice in a way that students will find quirky and engaging. Show Less

Money, relationships, love, choices, race and isolation… The tangled webs woven in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice pale into insignificance compared with the director’s relationship with his brother Trevor, Bassanio’s personal struggle with his dating profile, Antonio’s ill-fitting wardrobe and Portia’s blunt assessments of proceedings at rehearsal. This entertaining programme provides students with a comical yet pertinent portrayal of the play’s themes. Show Less

Thanks to a winning scratch card, Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice will open tomorrow night. The director (aka Shylock) bounces back, Portia’s learnt her lines, Antonio’s new shirt is a hit, although Bassanio’s battling with his dating psychometric test – oh the suspense; the dramatic irony…. Show Less

Enrich learning and teaching with our entertaining and informative video full of insights and background on Louisa May Alcott's classic work 'Little Women'. The video includes a look at some of the most significant film adaptations of the novel, and resources to help prompt discussion and writing. Show Less

When Victor Frankenstein created his monster he never named it, yet its complex personality and struggle for identity and acceptance provides a profound insight to the human condition. This clip examines the troubled relationship between Frankenstein and the monster, and the role of other characters in the novel, including William, Dr Clerval, Elizabeth, and Captain Walton. It is an ideal resource for English literature students. Show Less

In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley employs writing styles reflective of early 19th century literature. This clip explores a range of those styles, including using a series of letters to develop a narrative, structuring a narrative concentrically, and the inclusion of Gothic elements like horror, suspense, and poetic descriptions of wild, remote settings. It assists students of English literature to gain a fuller appreciation of this important novel. Show Less

Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein delves into a range of themes, which were particularly popular among 19th century Romantics, and which have been perennial favourites of numerous writers since. This clip highlights some of those themes, including the pursuit of knowledge and the responsibility involved with acquiring it, what makes us human, and the power of nature. It is a valuable resource for students of English literature. Show Less

Influenced and educated by her parents, Frankenstein’s author, Mary Shelley, grew up in a world of radical artists and writers. Her immortal novel explores various themes of early 19th century Romanticism. This clip looks at Mary Shelley’s background and major influences on her thinking and writing, giving students of English literature a broader understanding of the nature and significance of this notable work. Show Less

The world over, teachers hear the lament ‘why do we have to study Shakespeare?’ from their students. Here are the answers to that ubiquitous question! This densely packed and student-friendly programme includes well-known examples from his plays and a look at his contribution to the English lexicon to demonstrate Shakespeare’s enduring impact on language and the study of literature. Show Less