The Royal Lyceum Comany in Edinburgh has struck a sponsorship deal worth pound;19,000 with Scottish Hydro-Electric, thanks in part to the educational aspects of a forthcoming tour of Liz Lochhead’s play Britannia Rules.
A spokeswoman for the sponsors says: “We were attracted to Lyceum for several reasons, not least the fact that audiences throughout Scotland will have the opportunity to see this outstanding play.
“Another factor was the associated education programme. Our sponsorship programme has a strong emphasis on education and young people, so this project fits well with our objectives on arts and education.”
Welcoming the award, Lyceum education officer Steve Small says: “The play is accessible and popular, and a great introduction to drama. It’s funny, sad, interesting and colourful, and deals with such issues as what happens to children during a war.”
The play, which will tour the north of Scotland, including Orkney, for nine weeks this autumn, starts with the experiences of war-time child evacuees from Clydebank, sent to stay with a middle-class family in the countryside. It takes the audience up to the 1953 coronation.
The tour will include workshops for schools and adults, and a special pack on the history and politics, characterisation and staging, with extensive teacher’s notes for drama exercises.
Details from Steve Small, Royal Lyceum, tel: 0131 229 7404
