KNOT HEART - Almeida Theatre

Practical ExercisesThe Knot of the Heart deals with a number of issues that areparticularly interesting to explore in the classroom, particularly theideas of family secrets, manipulation and status. Below are just a fewsuggested exercises for use in lesson time to investigate the stylesand themes of the play in further depth.Exercise 1: SecretsIn The Knot of the Heart, a number of secrets are kept between the characters: Lucy’s dismissal fromAnimal House covered up by her producer; Angela’s self-harm; and the truth of the circumstances ofAngela and Lucy’s father’s death. Many of these secrets are about keeping up appearances - so thereis a dual layer of secrecy going on between the family keeping secrets from one another, and thenkeeping these hidden from the general public. This creates a complex, layered dramatic tension.Duration: 15 minutesAim: To introduce students to the idea of dramatic tension inherent in keeping secrets and the effecton the audience.Discussion: How might secrets be revealed - or discovered? What kind of secrets are common infamilies? Can keeping secrets always be a bad thing? What do you think the effect on an audiencemight be, of revealing knowledge of a kept secret?Practical Exercise: Split into groups of four. Ask students to create a short improvisation of a familycoming together after the death of a family member. One person has discovered something that theythink is a secret about the person who has died and they think that they are the only person whoknows. The secret must come out and we see how the other family members respond. Give groups 5-10 minutes to come up with a short, improvised scene, before sharing back.Evaluate: Did students want to defend or criticise the person who is dead? What does it feel like tokeep a secret from someone you are close to? What was the status in the scene and how did it shift?What is the relationship between secrets and power? Discuss the idea of open secrets, where peopleknow things but they are never discussed.Watching the Play: Think about how the characters use secrets: to threaten others, to strengthenbonds, to shock, to test people. How might things go differently if the characters in The Knot of theHeart were more open?Exercise 2: Manipulation and ControlIn the play, Barbara and Lucy have a co-dependent relationship where they are often manipulatingeach other - sometimes without realising this. Lucy persuades her mother to give her money to buydrugs - and even to buy drugs for her when she is in recovery; Barbara persuades Lucy to come backinto the family home after her first stay at City Roads.Duration: 10-15 minsAim: To introduce participants to the tactics people use to manipulate others and the idea of the effectof witnessing this on the audience - finding the theatricality of manipulation and its role in storytelling.Discussion: Discuss the idea of manipulation: how does it feel to realise you have been manipulated?Does anyone in the group feel they are good at manipulation? What do you think the word‘manipulation’ means? How and when can manipulation be useful? When can it be positive (i.e.47Resource Pack: The Knot of the Heart