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DES IS ALSO IN TOUCH WITH THE ILEA BUT SO FAR ON A
LOW KEY BASIS.
7.
FROM THE ENQUIRIES WE HAVE MADE, I HAVE
FORMED THE VIEW THAT THE PLAY "EMPIRE MADE" IS THE WORK
OF A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A SINCERE INTEREST IN
"THEATRE IN EDUCATION", BUT ARE POLITICALLY NAIVE.
не
PROJECT. THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN EXPLOITED BY THE RESEARCH GROUP.
THE DAMAGE THEY HAVE DONE IS REAL, BUT LIMITED IN ITS
EFFECT. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE PLAY HAS AROUSED DEEP
MISGIVINGS IN RESPONSIBLE EDUCATIONAL CIRCLES. THE
BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S THEATRE
(AND, I SUSPECT, THE ILEA TOO) ARE IN A VERY DIFFICULT
POSITION BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WISH TO APPEAR TO BE
"INTERFERING" IN ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY SENSITIVE AREAS
OF PUBLIC CONCERN IN BRITAIN AT THE MOMENT: NAMELY,
FREEDOM OF EDUCATION. ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY ARE
DEEPLY DISTURBED BY THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS, AS
WELL AS THE DOUBTFUL EDUCATIONAL VALUE, OF "EMPIRE MADE"
AND I THINK THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT THEY WILL BE
TAKING STRONG ACTION TO SEE THAT NOTHING LIKE IT HAPPENS
AGAIN. NOW THAT I HAVE A FIRST-HAND REPORT OF THE PLAY,
I PROPOSE TO PUT OUR VIEWS IN WRITING TO THE BOARD OF
GOVERNORS OF THE GREENWICH YOUNG PEOPLE'S THEATRE,
ON JULY 18TH. I SHALL ALSO TAKE UP MRS. HARLAND'S
OFFER OF HELP TO CIRCULATE APPROPRIATE LITERATURE AND
INFORMATION TO TEACHERS WHOSE CLASSES HAVE SEEN THE
PLAY.
8.
ONE ASPECT OF THE PERFORMANCE WHICH IS
PARTICULARLY DISTURBING IS THE CLEAR SUGGESTION THAT
FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED FAMILY PORTRAYED LIFE IN CHINA
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