Children not allowed to watch Romeo and Juliet

Title

Children not allowed to watch Romeo and Juliet

Genre

News report; Interview; Vox pop; Parliamentary debate

TX Date

20 Jan 1994

Year of production

1994

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Duration

00:04:12

Description

Havovi Todd reports for Drivetime on headmistress Jane Hardman Brown refusing to let children from Kingsmead Primary School on a Hackney estate watch Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet at Covent Garden following the offer of free tickets from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, saying it is blatantly heterosexual and exposes children to dramatised gang warfare. She is also banning them taking part in a local production. Comments from Hackney education director Gus John and Director of the Royal Opera House Jeremy Isaacs. In the Commons Dame Jill Knight and Prime Minister John Major condemn the decision. Parents at the school give their opinions.

Contributors

John Major; Jill Knight; Jeremy Isaacs; Havovi Todd; Gus John

Keywords

Theatre; Education; Teachers; Covent Garden; Hackney; Royal Opera House; Access to education; Dance; Ballet; Schoolchildren; William Shakespeare; Romeo and Juliet; Prokofiev; Paul Hamlyn Foundation; Jane Brown; Kingsmead Primary School

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