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Health WealthByMorgan Lloyd MalcolmTeachingresources researchedandwrittenbySimon Pollard
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HealtH WealtH – teacHing ResouRces
Developing Health Wealth 3
Childhood Obesity 4
Keeping Healthy 5
Health Wealth in Rehearsal 7
Writing Health Wealth: An interview with Morgan Lloyd Malcolm 10Performing Health Wealth: Interviews with the cast 11
Further Activities 13
Appendix 1: Healthy Eating Plate 16
Bibliography and credits 17
SupportedbyNHSSouthwarkandNHSLambeth
Health WealthContents
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HealtH WealtH – teacHing ResouRces
Developing Health Wealth Earlierthisyear,OldVicNewVoicesstagedamassivecommunitymusicalcalledEpidemicinTheOldVicTunnels.Epidemicwasaprojectofimmenseproportions.Itbeganwiththeideaofpublichealth.MovingintoanOlympicyear,healthandwell-beingwereatthetopofboththepoliticalandthepersonalagenda.Notlongafterwehadbeguntheproject,proposedchangestotheNHScametolight.Government-ledhealthinitiativesbegantokickin.Itseemedthatthefurtherwewentintheprocess,themoreprevalentthesubjectmatterbecame.Anintensiveresearchanddevelopmentphasesawuscollaboratewithscientists,healthcareprofessionalsandindividualsinthecommunitytorevealtwocoreissuesthatclamouredforourattention:obesityandmentalhealth.Overthecourseoftheproject,wecollaboratedwithateamofnearly200peoplewithinthelocalcommunity.
Fromtheoffset,wewerekeentoinvolveschoolsintheproject,andsofromthat,Health Wealthevolved,focussingfirmlyontheissueofobesity.WecommissionedMorganLloydMalcolm,thewriterofEpidemic,tocreateanew30-minutepiecethatexploredtheissue,anddrewfromthehugebankofresearchmaterialthatwehadgeneratedduringEpidemic.Itwasimportanttoallofusthattheplaytoldahumanhealthstorythatavoidedbecomingadrypublicserviceannouncement.Wewantedtocreateapiecethatraisedquestionsandideasaboutwell-being.Wealsofeltthatitwasimportantfortheshowtobeaccompaniedbyapost-showworkshopinwhichaudiencememberscouldunpicktheissuesraisedwithintheplay,andtogivethemtheopportunityofcomingupwiththeirownsolutions.
SynopsisHealth WealthfollowsadayinthelifeofaTheo–a15yearoldLondonschoolboy.Whenhismumrefusestocookhimsomething,heleavesthehousewithouteatingbreakfast,insteadbuyingachocolatebartosatisfyhishunger.HisOystercardwon’twork,andsoinsteadofgettingthebus,hereluctantlywalkstoschool–ajourneythattakeshim20minutes.Hefindsitdifficulttoconcentrateinclass,andsogetstoldoffbyhisteacherwhosuggeststhathislackofconcentrationmaybedowntohispoorbreakfastchoice.HisfriendClarealsotriestoadvisehimoftheimportanceofbeingabithealthier,butTheoignoresheradvice,andgoestothechickenshopforlunch.Ashisdayprogresses,Theomeetsmorepeoplewhotrytopersuadehimtomakeachange,includingsomerunners,amysteriousoldladyand,inaturnforthesurreal,aratherseductivechicken.Afteranotherchatwithhisteacherinwhichsheconfidesthatshewishesshehadchangedherlifestylewhenshewashisage,Theobeginstorealisethatwhatheputsinhisbodyishischoice:‘Ineedtogofromtakingtochoosing.Fromconsumingtoeating.Togofromsittingtostanding.Andmove.’
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HealtH WealtH – teacHing ResouRces
ChildhoodobesityintheUKhasbeenrisingsteadilyoverthepastdecade.Earlierthisyear,19-year-oldGeorgiaDavis–whoweighed63stone–hittheheadlineswhenshehadtobecutoutofherhouse.Recentstatisticssuggestthat25% of boys and 33% of girls living in the UK aged between 2 and 19 are obese.What’salsobecomeapparentisthatmanyareunawareoftheseverityoftheircondition.Worryingly,33% of mothers, and 57% of fathers thought that their children’s weight was ‘about right,’ when in fact they were obese.Linkedintothis,isthehighdiagnosisratesinyoungpeopleofType2diabetes–aconditionmoretraditionallyassociatedwithmiddle-agedadults.TheForesightreport,whichisusedtoguidegovernmentpolicy,haspredictedthatnearly half of the male population and over a third of the female population of the UK will be obese by 2025.
So what do we actually mean by ‘obesity’?AccordingtotheNHS,‘obesityiswhenapersoniscarryingtoomuchbodyfatfortheirheightandsex.Apersonisconsideredobeseiftheyhaveabodymassindex(BMI)of30orgreater.’Aperson’sBMIcanbecalculatedusinganonlineBMIcalculator,andtakesintoaccountaperson’sheightandweight.
What causes obesity?Therecommendeddailyallowanceofcaloriesisapproximately2,500foraman,2,000forawoman,and1,800–2,000forateenager.However,calorieintakemustbebalancedwithusingupcaloriesthroughphysicalexertion.Ourlivesarenowgenerallylessphysicallyactivethantheyusedtobe,withanincreasedrelianceonpublictransport,andoffice-basedjobs.Withincreasedperiodsofsittingstill,we’renotnecessarilyburningoffthecaloriesthatwe’reeating,sotheextracaloriesbecomestoredinourbodiesasfat,eventuallyleadingtonoticeableweightgain.
What are the symptoms of obesity?Day-to-dayproblemsmayinclude:
− Breathlessness− Increasedsweating− Snoring− Difficultysleeping− Increasedtiredness− Painfuljointsandback
What are the long-term consequences of obesity?Overaperiodoftime,obesitycancausehighbloodpressureandhighcholesterollevels,whichcanincreasetheriskofheartdiseaseandstrokes.Asmentionedabove,obesitycanalsoleadtoType2diabetes,mostcommonlyidentifiedbyextremetiredness,increasedthirstandincreasedneedtogotothetoilet.Therearealsopotentialpsychologicalrepercussionsofobesityincludinglowself-esteemandisolation,whichcaninturnleadtodepression.
Childhood Obesity
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HealtH WealtH – teacHing ResouRces
Keeping HealthyOverthecourseofHealth Wealth,thecastandcreativeteamworkedcloselywithnutritionistJoLewin(www.jolewin.com).Here,Jooutlinestheimportanceofkeepinghealthy.
What do we mean by ‘being healthy’− Beingfit,exercisingwithoutgettingoutofbreath,playingsport,beingactive− Beinganormalweight,notbeingtooheavyforageandheight− Feelinghappyandwell− Eatingfoodsfullofnutrientsthataregoodforourbody–havingniceskin,hair,nailsetc− Infrequentillness
What may cause us to be unhealthy?− Eatinghighfatand/orsugaryfoodsegtakeaways,friedfoods,chocolate,crispsetc− TVadvertisingforfoodshighinfatandsugar− Largerportionsegsupersizeandhelpingyourselftobigportions− Eatingmoreprocessed,conveniencefoodsegreadymealsandpacketfood− Lesscookingandeatingtogetherwithfamily− Havingtreatfoodssuchaschocolate,sweetsandbiscuitseverydayinsteadofastreats− Eatingbetweenmealsegsnacking− Notdoingenoughexercise− WatchingtoomuchTVandsittinginfrontofthecomputer
What can happen to our bodies if we are unhealthy?− Getsick–futurehealthriskseghighbloodpressure,highcholesterol,heartdisease,diabetes− Gainweight− Finditdifficulttoexercise− Feellowinmood
What can we do to improve our health?− Eathealthierfoodseg5fruitandvegetablesperday,lowfatfoods,fewertake-aways,fewersweets,crisps,biscuits− Eatsmallerportions− Drinklesssugaryfizzydrinksandsquashes− Walkmore− PlaymoreandsitlessegwatchlessTVandcomputergames
Can you be ‘fat on the inside’; skinny but not necessarily fit and healthy?Yes,itispossibletoappearthinontheoutsidebuthaveahighpercentageofinternalbodyfatevenifitisnotvisible.InternalfatsurroundstheorgansandisasignificantriskfactorinheartdiseaseandType2diabetes.Thedifferencebetweenbeingthinandbeinghealthylieswithbodycomposition:themeasureofleanmuscletofattissue.Weightaloneisnotanaccuratemeasureofhealthifyouconsiderweightliftersorathleteswhomayhaveaweightoutsidethehealthyrange,buttheirbodycompositionsareoptimalduetothehighamountofleanmuscle.
Havingadisproportionatepercentageofbodyfattoleanbodytissueontheinsideisaresultofeatingverylittle;mainlyjunkfood/caloriedensefoodsandalackofexercise.Thinpeoplemaybelulledintoafalsesenseofsecuritybyassumingthatbecausetheyarenotoverweight,theyarehealthy.Fatisthenstoredaroundtheorgans(liver,kidneys,heart)whichishighrisk.Tobehealthy,ensureexerciseandabalanceddietarecomponentsofyourlifestyle.Exercisewillincreaseyouramountofleanbodymass,metabolicrate,toneandstrengthenyourbodyandincreasecirculation.
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HealtH WealtH – teacHing ResouRces
Jo’s Top 10 Dietary Recommendations
1. Eatingadiethigh in proteintoprovidethebodywithwhatitneedstorebuildandpreservemusclemass,sothatitcanbeleanandhealthy.Choosechicken,fish,eggs,nuts,seeds,beans.
2. Whole foods are the best: unrefined, unprocessed. When it comes to grains, opt for brown (rice, bread, pasta etc).
3. Sticktohealthy fats,suchasavocadoandoliveoil.
4. Loaduponfreshfruitsandvegetablesandchooseallcoloursoftherainbow.Itistheeasiestwaytoensureyouaregettingallthenutrientsyouneed.
5. Reduce sugars,refinedcarbohydrates,andfoodadditives;stayawayfromanythingthatcomesinapacket.Indoingso,youwillimproveyourmoodandenergylevels.
6. Havebreakfast everyday.Incorporateeggs,wholegrains,yoghurt,fruit.
7. Don’tdrinkyourcalories;no fizzy drinks,sweeteneddrinks
8. Avoid factory food;readymealscontainfakeingredientsincludingtransfatsandMSG,highfructosecornsyrup,artificialcoloursandpreservatives.
9. Getgoingandgetstrong!Exercise, includingcardio(walking,running,cycling,kickboxing)buildsfitnessandimprovesmetabolismandstrengthtrainingwhichbuildsmuscle(soyouwon’tbeaskinnyfatperson!)
10. Sleep well.Sleepdeprivationaltersmetabolismandincreasescravingsforcarbohydratesandsugar.Aimfor7–8hourspernight.
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HealtH WealtH – teacHing ResouRces
Health Wealth in Rehearsal
DirectorSimonPollardgivesusaninsightintoatypicaldayintheHealth Wealthrehearsalroom
Warming Up
Everydaybeginswithabriefchattofindouthoweverybody’sfeelingatthebeginningoftheday.Areyoufeelingtired?Areyoufeelingstressed?It’sreallyimportanttotakeourmental–aswellasourphysical–wellbeingintoaccount.Especiallywithsuchasmallcast,it’simportantthatwecanallbesensitivetoeachother’sneedsandmoods.
Thisisfollowedbyanintensivewarm-up,lastingbetween45minutestoanhour.Thisisquiteaphysicalshow,andwithtwoperformancesaday,it’simportantthattheactorsareatagoodlevelofphysicalfitness.Also,itfeelsrightthatifwe’retryingtospreadthemessageoftheimportanceofahealthylifestyle,weshouldputthatintopracticeinourownlivestoo!Oneofmyfriendsisaperformer,andinarecentcabaretshow,hetalkedabouthowhehadlost7stonein8months,thankstofollowingthemantra‘Whohasn’tgot20minutes?’–theideabeingthateverybodycanfind20minutesintheirdaytodosomeformofexercise.Itookthisonboardandfiltereditintorehearsalstoo!
Wemightstartwithaquickgametogetourenergylevelsflowing,andthenoneofuswillrunathoroughphysicalworkout,ensuringthatallthemusclesthroughoutthebodyarepreparedforadayofmovement.Wealwaysdothisstandinginacircle,andtomusic–somethingloudandupbeatthatkeepsusmotivated!
Oneofourtypicalphysicalwarm-upsmightlooksomethinglikethis.Westartandendwithlightcardio,andthenworkourwaydownthebodywithaseriesofsimplestretches:
− Joggingalternatedwithfastrunningonthespot− StarJumps− Stretchesdownacrossthebody(egina‘star’position,stretchingthelefthanddowntotherightfootandvice
versa,holdingthestretchforafewseconds)− Rotatingtheheadgentlyfromrighttoleft− Rollingtheshouldersbackwardsandforwards,firstlywitharmsbyoursides,thenwithourhandsonourshoulders,
andthenwitharmsfullyextended(windmillarms)− Stretchingarms,holdingtheleftarmacrossthebodytowardstheright,usingtherightarmtopushtheleftarm
closertothebody,andthenviceversa− Withonehand,griptheotherhandjustbelowthewristandrotatethehandclockwiseandanticlockwise− Onallfours,archingandthendippingthespine.Werefertothisas‘HappyCat,AngryCat’becausecatsarchtheir
backswhenthey’reangry!− Sittingbackonourknees,withourhandsstretchedasfarforwardsaspossible,weholdthisstretchforawhile
beforepullingourbodiesthroughtomeetourhands,withoutouruppertorsotouchingtheground.− Rotatingourhipsincircles,andinafigureofeight− Lungetowardstheright,placingthebody’sweightontherightfootandextendingtheleftfeelingthestretch,and
viceversa− Standingontherightfoot,holdingtheleftfootbehindthebody,andviceversa− Sittingdown,withonefootcrossedovertheother,gripthefootjustabovetheankleandrotatethefootclockwise
andanticlockwise.− Sittingdown,stretchupandthenstretchdownacrossthebody,aimingtotouchyourtoes,orreachingasfaras
possible,andholdingforafewmoments.− Bringyourkneesuptowardsyouandgiveyourselfahug.− Morestarjumpsorgentlejogging
Our Top 5 Work Out Tracks
1. ‘Titanium’–DavidGuettafeaturingSia2. ‘BomBom’–SamandtheWomp3. ‘HotRightNow’–DJFreshfeaturingRitaOra4. ‘Young’–Tulisa5. ‘GoodFeeling’–FloRida(asfeaturedinthe
show)
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HealtH WealtH – teacHing ResouRces
Onothermornings,dependingonhowourbodiesfeel,wemightdosomeyoga,taichi,circuittrainingoreverybody’sfavourite–amassagechain,whereyoumassagetheneckandshouldersofthepersonstandinginfrontofyouwhilethepersonbehindyoumassagesyou!
Afterourworkout,wewarmupourfacesandvoices,usingacombinationoffacialstretches,humming,singingandtonguetwisters!
We’llendourwarm-upsessionwithanothergametogetusfocused.Hereareacoupleofexamplesofgoodgamestoimproveconcentrationandfocus:
One Frog
Inacircle,everybodyestablishesarhythmbyclappingtheirhandsontheirlegstwice,andthenclappingtheirhandstogethertwice.Onepersonstartsthesequencebysaying‘ONEFROG’intimewiththelegclaps.Thenextpersoninthecirclewillwaitforthetwohandclapsandthensay‘TWOEYES.’Thethirdpersonwillwaitforthetwohandclaps,andthensay‘FOURLEGS’intimewiththelegclaps.Thefourthpersonsays‘KER-PLUNK’intimewiththenexttwolegclaps.Thefifthpersonthenstartsthesequenceagain,butwith‘TWOFROGS.’Thenextpeoplealongmustworkouthowmanyeyesandlegstwofrogswillhave,aswellaskeepingtherhythmgoing.Theideaofthegameistoworkasateamtocountasmanyfrogsaspossible,withoutgettingthemathswrongorbreakingtherhythm.It’sharderthanitsounds!Ithinkourrecordwasfivefrogs…
Red Ball, Yellow Ball
Thisisagoodgametoplaywhenyou’rejustgettingtoknoweachother.Eyecontactandgoodthrowingandcatchingskillsareessential!Withthegroupstandinginacircle,onepersonthrowsaredballtoanotherpersonsayingtheirname,forexample‘RedballBevan.’Bevanwouldthensay‘Redballthankyou.RedballJen,’throwingtheballtoJen.Thiswouldthencontinue,andgraduallyayellowballwouldbeintroducedaswell,sotherearetwoballsflyingaroundthecircle.Wegottothestageofaddingathirdball,butwithonlyfivepeopleinourcircle,Idon’tthinkwecouldhavehandledanymore!
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HealtH WealtH – teacHing ResouRces
Devising Movement
Morgan’sscriptforHealth Wealthisveryfast-moving,andthereareoccasionswherethedialogueisalmostrap-like.Therearecertainstagedirectionsinwhichshesuggeststheactorslaunchthemselvesintoascene‘almostlikeafightoradance.’Wefeltthatthepiecereallysuitedaveryphysicalstyleoftheatre,andsoearlyoninrehearsalsIencouragedtheactorstocreatemovementsequenceswitheachother,inexercisesinfluencedbypractitionersincludingLabanandFranticAssembly.Notallofthepiecestheycreatedmadeitintothefinalpiece,buttheexercisesservedtogettheactorsworkingverycomfortablywitheachother,andalsoshowedtheactorsthatalthoughtheymightnotseethemselvesasdancers,theyweremorethancapableofdevisingandrehearsingchoreographedmovement.
AsthosewhohaveseenHealth Wealthwillknow,itstartsandendswithdifferentversionsofamovementsequence,whichalsorecursthroughoutthepiece.Thisishowthatsequencewasdevised:
Theorepeatstheline‘thefug,thesmells,thestink’frequentlythroughouttheplay,whendescribingwhatitfeelsliketoliveinabigcity.Igaveeachcastmemberavariationofthisline:
− ‘Mylungsarefullof…what?Thefug,thesmells,thestink,butIloveit.’− ‘Mybodyisfilledwith…what?Thefug,thesmells,thestinkanditfeelsliketherealstartofmyday.’− ‘Ibreatheinthe…what?Thefug,thesmells,thestinkandIstarttorealise…I’mhungry.’
Iaskedthemtosumuptheirindividuallineinfourclearmovesthattheycoulddostandingonthespot,whichwouldtransmitthesenseandfeelofthoselinestoanon-Englishspeakingaudience.Puttingonsomemusic,Ithenencouragedthemtorunthisstringoffourmovesthrough,intimewiththemusic,playingwiththetimingandfindinganaturalrhythm.Theythentaughttheirsequencestoeachother,creatingastringof12moves,whichtheybegantoloop.
Theythenbegantomovearoundtheroomintimewiththemusic,repeatingthe12movesequence.Oncetheyhadbecomeconfidentwiththis,Igotthemtospeedthesequenceup,runningitatdoubletime,andoncetheyhaddonethis–quadrupletime!Theyobviouslyfoundthisverytrickytostartwith,butsawitasachallengeandbyworkingoniteverymorningforafewdays,theyhadmanagedtodoit!
Wejokedaboutlearningthesequenceinreverse,butthenrealisedthatactuallythismightnotbesuchabadidea,astheplayendswithTheorealisinghecanchoosetogobackwardsorforwards,forhishealthtogetbetterorworse.Wedecidedthatrunningourmovementsequenceinreversemightbeagoodwayofsuggestingthis,andsoduringthesecondweekofrehearsalsthecastbegantorelearnthesequenceasiftheywerebeingrewound,walkingbackwards,andafterafewdaystheyhadcrackedit,andnowthesequenceexistsinseveralincarnationsthroughouttheshow.
Food Diaries
Discussionaroundtheissuesoftheplayisanimportantpartofrehearsing.Onthefirstdayofrehearsals,Iaskedtheteamtowritedowneverythingtheyhadeatenwithinthepast24hours–andIdidittoo.Wethenwentthroughanddiscussedourvariouschoices.Hadanyofusmanagedtoeatourrecommend‘5fruit&veg’aday?Hadwedrunkthesuggestedtwolitresofwater?Hadweeatenabalanceddiet?Itwasalarmingtorealisethatalthoughmostofusconsideredourselvestoberelativelyhealthconscious,inactualfactweweresometimesfoolingourselves!Wediscussedthenatureofeatingfoodonthego,andoftenpreferringfoodthatisfastandconvenientratherthanreallythinkingabouthowgoodornotitisforus.Wedecidedonthisfirstday,thatwewouldallmakeaconscientiousefforttoeatabalanceddietandmakesmallchanges,justasTheoisrecommendedtodoinHealth Wealth.Thishasoftenproveddifficult,astwoofusinparticularenjoybaking,andmuffinsandbrownieshavebeenbroughtintorehearsalsonmorethanoneoccasion!But,followingthemessageoftheplay,Ithinkwe’veallcometoreallyembracetheideaof‘balance’–it’snotaboutcompletelydeprivingourselvesoftreats,butatthesametime,weshouldn’thavethemallthetime!
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HealtH WealtH – teacHing ResouRces
Writing Health Wealth
AninterviewwithMorganLloydMalcolm
How did you get involved in this particular project?IwasoriginallycommissionedtowriteafulllengthmusicalwhichwasashowcalledEpidemicperformedbymembersofthecommunityinTheOldVicTunnelsearlierthisyear.Health Wealthwasafollowonpiecetobeperformedinschoolsandfocusonobesityandissuesarounddietandhealthinteenagers.BothprojectswerechallengesineithertheirscaleortheirsubjectmatterandforthatreasonIjumpedattheopportunitytobeinvolved.
How important is ‘health’ to you?Ithasbecomemoreimportantastheyearshaveprogressed.AndsincebecomingamotherI’verealisedthatmyhealthisnowimportanttoanotherhumanbeingtoo–asistheirs–andmyexampleIneedtobesetting!IguessIamnowbeyondtheperiodofmylifewhereIfeelinvincibleandI’verealisedIneedtobemoreactiveinmyattemptslookaftermybody.Ialsorealisehowmuchmyhealthimpactsonmyhappiness.
What have been the challenges for you writing this show?IwasattractedtoEpidemicasitwasalargescale,ambitiousshowthatwasalsotryingtosaysomethingimportanttotheaudiences.Itwasfocusedonmentalhealthbutalsotouchedonissuesaroundoldageandobesity.WhenIwasaskedtowriteafollowonpiecethatwouldbeperformedinschoolsitwasaskedthatIfocusonobesityasfoodandtheissuessurroundingitwasdeemedmostrelevantfortheteenageaudience.Ialsohadtocreatesomethingthatwouldbeeasytotourandsothelarge-scaleambitionofEpidemicwasnolongerpossibleandIinsteadhadtofocusonthestoryandthemessagebeingconveyedinacreativewayusingjustthreeperformersratherthanthe50wehadforEpidemic!Itwasalsoachallengetocreatesomethingthatcoulddeliverinformationwithoutbeingboringorpatronisingtotheteenaudience:Ihopethatthisiswhathasbeenachieved!
Have you learnt anything during the writing process?Ihavelearntanawfullotaboutfoodduringtheresearchingofthisproject!Alotofmythsarounddietandalsosomeinterestingstuffaboutwhyweseemsoattractedtofatsandsugars!
What would you like audiences to take away from the play?IwouldlikeouraudiencestofirstandforemostbeentertainedbutIalsohopethatthewaywehavetackledthesubjectmattermeanswehavegiventhemsomethingnewtothinkaboutintermsofhealthanddiet.Hopefullywewillempowerouraudiencestotakechargeoftheirbodiesandthedecisionstheymakeaboutwhattoputinthemasfuel.
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Performing Health Wealth
Aninterviewwiththecast:BevanCelestine(Theo),RebeccaBirch(Clare/Chicken)andJenniferGreenwood(Mum/Teacher).
What attracted you to working on the project?Rebecca Birch: I’vejustfinishedperforminginashowatChichesterFestivalTheatre,andwhileIwasthereIgotinvolvedintheyouththeatre,andIfounditreallyinspiringworkingwiththeyoungpeople,andhearingabouttheirthoughtsonstuff.SowhenIsawHealthWealthadvertisedIappliedstraightaway.I’mreallyinterestedintheissuesraisedbytheplay,becauseworkingasayoungactress,particularlywhenyou’reatdramaschool,there’salotofpressureonwhatyoueatandhowyoulook,andIwantedtobeabletoexploresomeoftheseissueswithouraudiences.Jennifer Greenwood:AlthoughI’verecentlygraduatedasanactress,Iusedtoworkasateacher,soplayingateacheronstageseemedthenaturalprogression!TheissuesraisedbytheplayarequiteimportanttomebecauseIlovemyfoodandamalwaysveryinterestedinwhatgoesintoit!Bevan Celestine: Formeitwasallaboutthewriter,MorganLloydMalcolm,andthecompanyandthevariousotherpeoplewhoweregoingtobeinvolved,andIknewitwasgoingtobesomethingepicsoIthoughtI’dtryandgetinvolved.WhenIfirstreadthescript,IwasamazedbyhowalikeIwastothemaincharacterTheo,soitseemedliketheperfectpartformereally!
Bevan, in what ways are you similar to Theo?BC:IprettymuchusedtobeTheowhenIwas15.Infact,prettymuchupuntiltheageof21tobehonest!Iusedtoeatchickeneverydayandbeinlovewithcars,andIusedtothinkIcouldgetawaywithnotworryingaboutmyhealth.Itwasn’tuntillateroninlifethatIrealisedthatIcouldn’treallygetawaywithitanymore.It’sinterestingbecauseifIhadseenaplaylikethiswhenIwasyounger,itmighthavealertedmetoalotofthedangerstodowithnoteatinghealthily.
How has your lifestyle changed since the days when you were like Theo?BC: Myeatinghabitshavealotmorebalance,whichisinterestingbecauseIthinkthat’sthemainmessageoftheplayandworkshop.Ihaven’tstoppedeatingjunkfood,butIeatquitehealthilyonthewhole,andIworkouteverydaywhichisgood–beforeIdidn’tdoanyexerciseatall.I’vealsostartedthinkingmoreaboutmycholesterollevel,thinkingabouttheamountoffatthatmyfoodcontains,whichlinksintotheideaofbeing‘fatontheinside’whichweexplore.
How have you found the rehearsal process?JG: It’sveryintensebecausethereareonlythreeofus,andwe’reonstageprettymuchallthetime.Soeveryday,wedoafullphysicalwarm-up,andbecauseMorgan’splayreallylendsitselftoaphysicalstyleoftheatre,we’vehadtoreallybuildupourstamina!RB:Myfavouritethingabouttherehearsalprocesshasbeenworkingouttogethereverymorning,becauseitmeantthatwehadtoreallygetintoshape,inordertodoaplayaboutgettingintoshape!ForthefirstfewdaysIwasdefinitelyabitstiff,Icouldn’ttouchmytoes,andnow–twoweekson–Icangetmyhandsflatontheflooragain,soitfeelsgreattobeabletoreallynoticethatprogression.Ialsolovedhowcollaborativetherehearsalprocesswas–wehadtouseourbrainsaswellasourbodies–andhadtoworkasateamandsupporteachother.
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Is there anything that any of you have learnt over the course of the project so far?RB:IlearntalotfromJoLewin,anutritionistwhocameintospeaktous.Iusedtodrink5or6bottlesofDietCokeaday,andIusedtoloveit,thinkingthatbecauseIthoughtit’ssugar-free,I’mnotgoingtoputonanyweight.ButnowI’vefoundoutthatit’sgotaspartameinit,whichisa‘fakesugar’whichactuallymakesitworseforyouthanregularCoke,whichcontainsnaturalsugars.SoIthoughtthatifwe’reexpectingouraudiencestomakechangestotheireatinghabits,Icanmakeasmallchangetoo,soI’vebeendrinkingno-added-sugarsquashinsteadofDietCoke,andIalreadyfeelalittlebitbetterwithinmyself!JG:Mybiggestguiltypleasureisdairyproducts.Iusuallybuyfull-fatcheese,mayonnaise,creamandyoghurt,butIknowitwouldbebetterformetobuythehalf-fatoptions.Sothat’sgoingtobemywayofmakingasmallchange,aswellasexercisingregularly!
What are you most looking forward to about going on tour with Health Wealth?RB: Ithinkthereactionoftheaudienceisgoingtobedifferentineveryschool–I’mlookingforwardtohearingtheideastheycomeupwithintheworkshop,andIreallyhopethattheylearnsomething,evenifit’sonlysomethinglittlethatthey’regoingtochange.BC:Ithinkit’sgoingtobechallengingattimes,butI’mlookingforwardtohearingtheaudience’sopinions,soIthinkit’sgoingtobereallyrewardingtoo.
If you could pass one top health tip on to people reading this, what would it be?RB & BC:Balance!JG:Exercise!‘Whohasn’tgot20minutes?!’
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Health WealthFurther Activities
Havingseentheshowandparticipatedintheworkshop,herearesomeexerciseswhichstudentsmaybeinterestedin,whichtheissuesraisedingreaterdepth.Somearetakenfromtheworkshop,andotherswereusedbythecastinrehearsals.
Stand Up Sit Down
➜ Organisethestudentsintoaspaceandaskthemtofollowtheseinstructions:− Standup− Sitdown− Touchthefloor− Reachupashighasyoucan
➜ Oncethegrouphasgottogripswiththefourbasicrulestheactionswillbeswappedsothat:− StandupmeansSitDown− SitdownmeansStandUp− Touchthefloormeansreachupashighasyoucan− Reachupashighasyoucanmeanstouchthefloor.
True or False
➜ Askthegroupthefollowingstatements,andthestudentsshouldguessiftheyaretrueorfalse.Thisexercisecanbecompletedinteamsorindividually.
− Butter is better for you than margarine TRUE:butterismadefromnaturalfatwhereasmargarineismadefrommanmadefatsoitisharderforthebodytoprocess.
− Your 5-a-day can only come from fresh fruit and vegetables FALSE:Tinnedfruit,fruitjuice,smoothiesalsocount.
− You can be fat on the inside TRUE:Fatcanalsobestoredontheinsidesoitispossibletoappearthinontheoutsideofthebodybuttobestoringfatdepositsontheinside.
− You should not eat after 7pm FALSE:Foodtakesuptoanhourtoprocessthroughthebodysoaslongasyouleaveanhourbeforeyougotobeditisfine.
➜ Aftereachquestionhaveabriefconversationaboutthestatementsandthestudentsreactions.
Agree/Disagree
➜ Organisearoomandmarkonesideoftheroom‘agree’andtheother‘disagree’.➜ Askthefollowingstatementsandstudentsshouldrespondbymovingtothepointsintheroomwhichbestreflect
theiropinion.− Skippingbreakfastmakesyoulessproductive− Eatinghealthilytakesmoreeffort− Eatinghealthilycanbeexpensive− ‘Junkfood’tastesbetterthanhealthieroptions− Eating‘junk’foodisfineinmoderation− Exercisingisimportant
➜ Aftereachquestionhaveabriefconversationaboutthestatementsandthestudentsreactions.
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HealtH WealtH – teacHing ResouRces
What is a healthy meal?
➜ Splitthegroupintotwoteamsandgivethemoneofthefollowingtitles:− TheMostUnhealthyMeal− TheMostHealthyMeal
➜ Theyshouldworkasateamtocreateamenuwhichsuitesthetitle.➜ Onceboththemenushavebeencompletedcompareboththinkingaboutthefollowingquestions:
− Wouldanyoneeattheitemsonthesemenus?− Howwouldyougetabalancebetweenthetwo?− Shouldportionsizebeconsidered?
Food Diaries
➜ Askthestudentstomakealistofallfoodconsumedwithinthepast24hours.➜ Usingthe‘EatwellPlate,’lookatwhetherthecontentofthelistsareinlinewiththerecommendedguidelines.➜ Thingstothinkabout:
− Thecalorificcontentofallthefoodconsumed− Theamountoffatandsugarcontainedinthefood− ComparetheliststotheRecommendedDailyAllowances.− Ifnecessary,howcouldchangesbemadetothedietinthefuture?
Persuasion
➜ Setthegroupupinacircleandplaceonechairinthemiddleofthecircle.➜ Askforavolunteertositinthechairandgivethemthecharactercardbelow.
Theoisa15-year-oldschoolboy.Whenhismumrefusestocookhimsomething,heleavesthehousewithouteatingbreakfast,insteadbuyingachocolatebartosatisfyhishunger.HisOystercardwon’twork,andsoinsteadofgettingthebus,hereluctantlywalkstoschool–ajourneythattakeshim20minutes.Hefindsitdifficulttoconcentrateinclass,andsogetstoldoffbyhisteacherwhosuggeststhathislackofconcentrationmaybedowntohispoorbreakfastchoice.
➜ OncethiscardhasbeenreadexplaintothegroupthatTheoneedstomakesomechangestohislifestyleifhedoesn’twanttogetill.
➜ TheobjectiveofthestudentswhoareformingthecircleistopersuadeTheotomakesomechanges.ThevolunteerwhoisplayingTheoshouldlistentothesesuggestionsandrespondaccordingly.IfthegroupsuggestssomethingwhichthevolunteerthinkswouldpersuadeTheotomakechanges,thentheyshouldacknowledgethisbystandingup.
➜ Questionstoask:− Whattypesofpersuasionworked?− Whatdidn’twork?− Whatkindofrealisticchangescouldbemade?− Wouldanyoftheclassmakethesechangesthemselves?
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HealtH WealtH – teacHing ResouRces
Higher or Lower
➜ Askeachstudenttochooseoneindividualitemoffoodordrink.➜ Askthemtoresearchthecalories,fat,sugarandsaltcontainedwithinthatfood.Thisinformationcanbefoundat;
www.weightlossresources.co.uk.➜ NowaskthemtofindordrawapictureoftheirchosenfoodordrinkonanA4sheetofpaper,andwritetheirvarious
foodlevelsonthebackofthesheet.➜ Thegroupcannowparticipateina‘TopTrumps’stylegame,investigatingwhetheronepieceoffoodhasa‘higher’or
‘lower’quantitythananother.➜ Questionstoask:
− Whichfoodcouldbecalledthe‘healthiest’?− Whichisdefinitelythe‘unhealthiest’?− Whatcriteriadidyouusetodefine‘healthy’?
Advertising
InHealth Wealth,Theoispresentedwithaseriesofadvertseachtemptinghiminadifferentway.Theypromisethateatingtheirfoodwillmakehimricher,morefunorevenskinnier.
➜ Asaresearchassignment,askstudentstolookatanadvertforfood;eitherontelevision,radioorinprint.Askthemtoanalysewhotheadvertisaimedat,andwhatthemanufacturersareusingtopersuadethecustomertobuytheirproduct.
➜ Nowaskstudentstocreatetheirownadvertsinsmallgroups–firstforaparticularlyunhealthyproduct,andthenforahealthieroption–usingtheirresearchasinspiration.Whatcantheydotomakethefoodseemappealingtotheirchosenaudience?
Areas of Responsibility
WeusedthisexerciseintheresearchstagesofEpidemicwhicheventuallyledustothethemeofobesity.Thiscancoverthewiderissueofpublichealthbutcouldalsoexploresomeoftherootcausesoftheobesityepidemic.
➜ Areasoftheroomaresplitupandallocatedaparticulargroup.Forexample:− Goverment− BigBusiness− Media− Individuals− Familyandfriends− Charities
➜ Selectapublichealthissue,forexample,smoking,pollutionorlittering.Studentsthenhave10secondstodecidewhotheythinkshouldbeprimarilyresponsibleforaddressingit.The‘delegation’ateachareamustelectaspokespersonandcomeupwithonereasonwhytheybelievethatparticulargroupisprimarilyresponsibleforaddressingit.
➜ Onceyouhaveestablishedtheexerciseyoucouldbegintofocusontherootcausesofobesity–highcalorieintake,lackofexercise,highsaltandfatcontentinregularfoods.Thiscanpromptadiscussionaboutthebarrierstohealthylivingandwaysthatwecouldalladdressthem.
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HEALTH WEALTH – APPEnDIx 1
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HealtH WealtH – teacHing ResouRces
Bibliography & Credits
Health WealthWrittenbyMorgan Lloyd MalcolmProducedbyOld Vic new VoicesDirectedbySimon PollardCastRebecca Birch,Bevan Celestine,Jennifer GreenwoodStageManagerVictoria Heathcock
Health WealthtouredLondonschoolsSeptember–October2012.
Forfurtherinformationonanyoftheissuesmentionedwithinthisresourcepack,pleasevisitthefollowingwebsites:www.jolewin.comwww.nhs.ukwww.weightlossresources.co.ukwww.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Documents/Eatwellplate.pdfwww.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/mar/11/obesity-children-healthcare-food-industry/