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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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.

www.weightlossresources.co.uk

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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/

http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Documents/Eatwellplate.pdf

www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/mar/11/obesity-children-healthcare-food-industry/