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The Good Person of Szechwan

2023
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This education pack is designed for teachers of Drama GCSE and BTEC Performing Arts students and is geared towards the live theatre review and practitioner study. This pack is written from a theatre maker’s perspective and we are keen to draw your attention to the section called ‘Provocations’ which outlines tensions and questions the creative team have identified within the text and which they then explore onstage in this translation by Nina Segal of Bertolt Brecht’s The Good Person of Szechwan. We hope that these provocations stimulate robust student discussion on capitalism, exploitation and the patriarchy. Moreover we hope this education pack prompts your students to consider the cultural importance of reclaiming narratives for the next generation.

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In the hustle and bustle of a modern-day metropolis, Shen Te is doing all she can to get by.

When three gods reward her hospitality with a life-changing sum of money, Shen Te opens a tobacco shop and claims the stability she’s always dreamed of. However, the struggle is not over yet. Forced to question the cost of her own survival, she resorts to scheming and deceit to flourish in this capitalist world.

Cast

Third God – Nick Blakeley
Mrs Mi Tzu / Old Woman – Melody Brown
Yang Sun / Boy – Aidan Cheng
Lin To / Shu Fu / Waiter – Jon Chew
First God – Callum Coates
Husband / Priest / Rat – Togo Igawa
Mrs Shin / Brother’s Wife – Suni La
Man / Jobless Man / Policeman / Brother – Camille Mallet de Chauny
Wife / Mrs Yang – Louise Mai Newberry
Second God – Tim Samuels
Shen Te / Shui Ta – Ami Tredrea
Wang – Leo Wan

Creative and production team

Writer – Bertolt Brecht
Translator – Nina Segal
Director – Anthony Lau
Designer – Georgia Lowe
Lighting Designer – Jessica Hung Han Yun
Composer – DJ Walde
Sound Designer – Alexandra Faye Braithwaite
Musical Director and Voice Coach – Lauren Dyer
Movement Director – Carrie-Anne Ingrouille
Associate Lighting Designer – Jason Ahn
Associate Movement Director – Tara Young
Casting Director – Jacob Sparrow
Dramaturg – Jennifer Bakst
Assistant Director – Lexine Lee
Literal Translator – Susy Hingley

The Good Person of Szechwan is a Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, ETT and Sheffield Theatres co-production, commissioned by ETT.