On Monday 11 May, award-winning dramatist, lyricist and composer Willy Russell was joined by over 70 teachers and students in an online Q&A hosted by Bloomsbury Publishing’s English and Drama for Schools and Stage-ed, a company that offers a variety of drama, performance, or revision workshops for schools.
Blood Brothers has been taught in schools for around 20 years and continues to be a core part of the curriculum, exploring themes of childhood, social class, superstition, love and friendship. 'The idea behind the session', Bloomsbury representatives explain, 'was to galvanize teachers who are teaching the play from home, as well as students who are learning it, giving them the opportunity to ask Russell their burning questions about the play from the inspirations behind his writing, to whether or not the entrenched class problems highlighted in the play have changed in the 30+ years since its publication. Nothing was off limits and attendees even got to hear Willy singing a song from the musical as well as reading an extract from the play!'
Through his writing, Russell, who was a teacher during the early 70s, said that he has always kept his links with education: 'Education matters phenomenally to me…I have said for years that the most important group of workers in this country are teachers.'
During the event, Dom O’Hanlon, Commissioning Editor for Plays at Bloomsbury Publishing, posed questions to Russell taken from the audience, alongside Steven Palfreman and Michael Southern, the co-founders and Directors of Stage-Ed.
To watch the video recording of the event, go to Bloomsbury's google drive.