Our Day Out: Improving Standards in English through Drama at Key Stage 3 and GCSE (Critical Scripts)

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Here Russell wants the audience to dislike Briggs because the contrast of him to Mrs Kay shows us what he’s really like: selfish, uncaring, and patronising. Here we see that he judges all of the children. He talks to them as if they are not considered real human beings and should be referred to as animals. He is also hypocritical because he tells the keeper off for being rude, but later on he goes and does the same thing again to upset the children. Briggs’s eyes are opened by Carol expressing her opinions. He realises the kids see him differently to the way he sees himself. He may teach the examination classes, but he is not necessarily the best teacher. The problem is he thinks he is always right. Therefore he has to keep the children below his level to maintain his power.

Therefore showing that she is not very supportive of the children and has little belief in them. Carol has become attached to her and needs support and encouragement to be able to work hard and leave Liverpool, but Mrs Kay doesn’t give her this. This comment suggests that he thinks that her behaviour is stupid and she is a bad influence to the children. On the other hand Mr Briggs professional attitude encourages the children to behave maturely, whilst Mrs Kay’s behaviour can be irresponsible. Despite Briggs stern, unfriendly attitude the children still want to bond with him and create a ‘mother hen’ relationship like they have with Mrs Kay. When the children were leaving the city, on the coach a little kid threatens to tell Mrs Kay that Reilly and Digga are smoking.Here Russell makes us feel empathy for Carol because she knows there is nothing to look forward to. Climbing the cliff gets her some attention. She has a low self-esteem and Briggs has to listen to her. Carol threatens to jump because it is a cry for help. She wants to know if anyone will notice and show they care. She has had only a small part up until this point, reflecting how she and others like her feel ignored by society and how people like Briggs drive past her on the way home. He starts to worry. He can’t let other teachers know he has stepped out of line or he will loose his reputation. He starts to speak to her personally and calls her by her first name. Here Russell wants the audience to start to take a liking to Briggs. The start of a personal relationship with the students is conveyed. He makes a comparison between dogs and these children. This shows that he believes that they are worthless and incapable of achieving anything. When the coach finally reaches the Castle, the students race around exploring the grounds, cliffs and beach. Soon it's time to leave but one of the best-behaved students, Carol, is missing. A search ensues and Mr. Briggs finally finds Carol, who is depressed because she doesn't want to return to her troubled family home. She wants a better life and wishes she lived in a nicer area, like the area which surrounds the Castle. She becomes so upset that she threatens to jump off the cliff. Mr. Briggs, who up till this point has acted as a strict disciplinarian, policing the students' bad behaviour and expressing doubts that they should even be allowed to have an outing, shows a more understanding side as he convinces Carol not to jump and to rejoin the rest of the group.

Mr Briggs is used to ‘examination classes’. He stereotypes the children in the progress class, but they are used to this, so it has no effect. The television play was shown in many European countries including France and Germany. Roy Gibb, then Head of Sales for BBC Enterprises, observed that it was among their most successful exports and believed it was ideal for international audiences, given its emphasis on visual effects and contemporary humour. [6] Differences from the musical [ edit ]This shows that Briggs is concerned about how the school is portrayed and he wants to set a good example of a good school. However this can be portrayed as a ‘bad’ attitude for a teacher to have. It comes across that he is self-centred and that he isn’t genuinely bothered about the children, but instead bothered about his own reputation. And how it may reflect on him. Mrs Kay on the other hand, tries to make him realise that these children are being deprived and all that she can do is allow them to have fond memories of high school.

In scene 31, Mrs Kay proves to be a better teacher, by encouraging the children to express their feelings. Russell skilfully uses the bear’s conversation to convey to the audience Briggs attitude. Russell wants us to empathise with the children and understand how they are stereotyped and not cared for. The children think it’s cruel that the bear is kept in the pit. However Briggs says “it was born in captivity so it won’t know any other sort of life.” His feelings towards the bear reflect his attitude towards the children. He thinks it doesn’t know any differently. Similarly to the kids and their limited lifestyles. He stereotypes them but they are used to this so it has no effect.Russell has also written television projects, including the one-off drama, Our Day Out, which aired in 1977. He penned another television drama, One Summer, which aired as a five-part series on Channel 4 in 1983, starring a young David Morrissey. This is the first thing that he says to the children which gives the impression that he is pompous because he behaves as if he has authority over everyone around him. His shouting shows that he is impatient. On the other hand they could be having this conversation because she has let something bad happen before. Here, Mr Briggs is keen to teach Digga about the area. He keeps him interested. This is a skill that is vital to being a good teacher. Mrs Kay probably wouldn’t have been able to do this. In 2000, Russell published his first novel, The Wrong Boy. In epistolary form, main character Raymond Marks, a 19-year old from Manchester, tells the story of his life in letters to his hero Morrissey.

Russell skilfully uses juxtaposition switching between the scenes when Mrs Kay and Mr b (happily in the café) and the kids causing chaos in the zoo. This is also dramatic irony, as the audience knows more than the characters. When Briggs finds out he is disappointed and knows he can’t trust them again. This again shows that she wants them to enjoy themselves. She is simple and at times, thinks as a child. William Russell is a British dramatist, lyricist, and composer. His best-known works are Educating Rita, Shirley Valentine, and Blood Brothers. At the beginning of the trip Russell skilfully uses Mr Briggs sharp stern entrance onto the coach to accentuate his personality. The most noticeable difference from the musical was the omission of the characters John and Mac, who, in the musical, are the rural shop owners in Wales who get robbed by the kids. In the filmed version, they are replaced by two women.Whilst Mr Briggs is running around taking care of the children, Mrs Kay sits down and relaxes with one pupil. This shows that she is irresponsible and might not be able to control the class in an emergency. Her behaviour is inappropriate because she has a favourite pupil and does not allow Carol to be independent. This conveys to the audience his strict, military style way of teaching. A stereotypical, strict teacher image is portrayed in the audience’s minds of Mr Briggs. And the audience take an automatic disliking to him. Here Mr Briggs is considerate of the children at the appropriate time. He is good at taking control during bad situations. Mr Briggs knows that these children have not been on a school visit before but still gives them no freedom. She is disappointed at Mr Briggs for not understanding what she has told him. It has had no effect on his opinions so she stands up to him because she strongly believes the children deserve fun.