There’s a new Education Pack and school rates for the courtroom thriller, which has seen record audience figures so far in 2023.
So far in 2023, more than 86,000 people have seen Witness for the Prosecution at London’s historic County Hall.
Director Lucy Bailey (Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare’s Globe) places the audience in the thick of the action as Christie’s enthralling tale of justice, passion and betrayal unfolds around them.
In addition to the extended booking period (until September 2024), there’s a new Education Pack which includes production information, lesson plans and activities to enrich your class’s visit to the show.
There are also special rates for educational groups of eight plus (a maximum of 50 students and teachers).
Example school activity linked to Witness for the Prosecution
One of the activities available is a Persuasive Writing lesson which invites Key Stages 3 & 4 students to create a piece of persuasive writing from the perspective of Romaine Heilger. Pupils are to imagine that it’s 1953, a couple of weeks before Leonard Vole’s trial.
They must write a letter to the editor of a newspaper from the perspective of Romaine Heilger. They have just read an article about Leonard Vole, insinuating that he is guilty of the murder of Emily French and that it is likely he will be found guilty.
Students are encouraged to use rhetorical questions, emotive langauge as well as facts and figures to support the points they’re making.
Other school resources include a Sound Design Brainstorming Sheet which asks students to think carefully about the play and how sound was used within the production using images and questions as prompts.
About Witness for the Prosecution
Leonard Vole is accused of murdering a widow to inherit her wealth. The stakes are high. Will he be able to convince the jury of his innocence and escape the hangman’s noose?
The twists and turns of the case are played out in a spectacular courtroom setting inside the atmospheric London County Hall as prosecution battles defence and witnesses take the stand to give their shocking testimonies.
It first opened in October 2017 and was developed with the support and involvement of the Christie family. At the time, Christie’s great grandson, James Prichard said: “It is really exciting to see this innovative approach to one of my great grandmother’s best plays.”
There are special ticket rates for school groups of eight plus, depending on the seat band and on selected dates.
To find out more, visit the dedicated Educational Groups section of the website.
