The Empress in context by Discovering Literature – British Library

Discovering Historical Sources enquiry: Britain and India

discovering_literature — 2024-10-10 08:58:26 UTC

How did Britain’s involvement with India make an impact on the lives of both Indian and British people from c. 1750 to c. 1930? Explore these resources, including teachers' notes, student activities and expert films, on the East India Company and British rule in India.

The Empress 2013 playlist (RSC Shakespeare Learning Zone)

discovering_literature — 2024-10-10 09:04:37 UTC

The Empress was commissioned by the RSC in 2013 and performed in The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon. In this series of short films, Tanika Gupta along with director Emma Rice, designer Lez Brotherston and choreographer Ankur Bahl look back at the production.

The Empress Teacher Pack 2023 (RSC)

discovering_literature — 2024-10-10 09:08:00 UTC

This pack supports the RSC’s 2023 production of Tanika Gupta's The Empress, directed by Pooja Ghai.

The Empress 2023 playlist (RSC Shakespeare Learning Zone)

discovering_literature — 2024-10-10 09:14:05 UTC

The Empress directed by Pooja Ghai and written by Tanika Gupta was performed in The Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2023. In this series of Text Detective films, explore key scenes, context and themes.

Bloomsbury Lit in Colour: In conversation with Tanika Gupta

discovering_literature — 2024-10-22 09:01:03 UTC

Part of Bloomsbury's Lit in Colour Partnership in collaboration with Penguin Books UK and The Runnymede Trust. Tanika Gupta delves deeper into the plot, overarching themes and historical context of The Empress.

The Empress - Lit in Colour Teacher Conference Resources

discovering_literature — 2024-10-22 09:02:40 UTC

The resources in this pack are to support teachers who are considering auditing and amending their curriculums to include The Empress.

All Lit in Colour resources

discovering_literature — 2024-10-22 09:05:27 UTC

Penguin Lit in Colour Conference: In conversation with Tanika Gupta

BL_Learning_7 — 2024-11-07 15:34:27 UTC

Tanika Gupta talks to Dale Collett, an English teacher at Blue Coat School, as part of the Lit in Colour Pioneers project.

The Empress 2013 Resources (RSC)

BL_Learning_7 — 2024-11-07 16:02:33 UTC

These resources support the RSC's 2013 production of Tanika Gupta's The Empress, directed by Emma Rice. You can read the original programme and delve into short films and activities to explore the play's context, themes and processes.

Video clip: An introduction to ayahs

discovering_literature — 2024-11-21 12:33:13 UTC

Rozina Visram and Florian Stadtler introduce the history of ayahs (Indian women who were employed in British households to look after children) and their presence in Britain. This film was created as part of Discovering Historical Sources. View the full film.

Video clip: The Ayahs' Home

discovering_literature — 2024-11-21 12:35:19 UTC

Rozina Visram and Florian Stadtler explore the history of the Ayahs' Home in Hackney, east London, and reflect on the lives and experiences of ayahs. This film was created as part of Discovering Historical Sources. View the full film.

Video clip: An introduction to lascars

discovering_literature — 2024-11-21 13:06:37 UTC

Rozina Visram and Florian Stadtler introduce the history of lascars (seafarers) and their working conditions. This film was created as part of Discovering Historical Sources. View the full film.

Video clip: The Lascari-Bat phrasebook

discovering_literature — 2024-11-21 13:07:00 UTC

Rozina Visram and Florian Stadtler examine a Lascari-English phrasebook used by commanding officers to communicate with and give orders to lascars. This film was created as part of Discovering Historical Sources. View the full film.

Video clip: Mina Ayah's employment agreement

discovering_literature — 2024-11-21 13:20:42 UTC

Rozina Visram and Florian Stadtler examine a rare surviving employment agreement for a woman known as Mina Ayah. This film was created as part of Discovering Historical Sources. View the full film.

Tanika Gupta's The Empress: historical context

discovering_literature — 2024-11-26 14:11:00 UTC

In this article, Florian Stadtler explores key historical contexts for The Empress including the presence of ayahs, lascars, Dadabhai Naoroji and Abdul Karim in 19th-century Britain.

Explore more Discovering Literature articles

discovering_literature — 2024-11-26 18:53:38 UTC

Explore 100 of our best loved articles, perfect for teachers of Years 10–13.

The Empress with Tanika Gupta: CPD for English and Drama teachers

discovering_literature — 2025-03-19 14:52:37 UTC

In this session the award-winning playwright, Tanika Gupta, is in conversation with Dr Lesley Nelson-Addy, co-author of the Lit in Colour report. Dr Florian Stadtler discusses the play in context, using rich primary sources. And English teachers from Blue Coat School suggest dynamic ways of exploring The Empress with students.

Explore photographs, newspapers and unique sources connected to The Empress

discovering_literature — 2025-12-15 11:31:47 UTC

South Asian writing in Britain: a timeline

discovering_literature — 2026-05-20 09:54:34 UTC

Explore a snapshot of the vast wealth of literature written and published in Britain and Ireland by writers of South Asian heritage and learn more about the history of South Asian writing in Britain.