Crime and punishment: The death penalty

This scheme uses the following stimuli to inspire devising work:

• Derek Bentley 1952 
• Tookie Williams 2005

Britain in the 1950s

• Derek Bentley’s last letter
• Police statements
• Let Him Have It, film by Peter Medak
• Let Him Dangle by Elvis Costello.  

Death Row in 21st-century America

• Tookie Williams’ factual details
• Redemption, film with Jamie Foxx
• The Mercy Seat by Nick Cave, sung by Johnny Cash
• Gangsta’s Paradise by Coolio / Stevie Wonder.

Learning objectives:

• Use news story / crime case to explore issues of theatricality and crime and punishment and the use of the death penalty
• Confirm exploratory strategies such as hot-seating, role play, tableaux, split scene, marking the moment, thought tracking and forum theatre
• Explore dramatic elements: tension, forms, rhythm, pace and tempo, contrasts, characterisation, conventions and symbolism
• Use movement, voice, spoken language, space and music from the dramatic medium - Use of a variety of stimuli (factual articles, letters, music, lyrics, films and dramatic scenes) to generate dramatic exploration.

Number of lessons: 6