Backa Teater | Little King Mattias

Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education Nordic Cool 2013 is presented in cooperation with the Nordic Council of Ministers

Watch for…

■ how the actors playing ministers, or government officers, each play a second role as citizens in the kingdom—this is called doubling ■

how Felicia sneaks in and out of the palace

■

how the costumes and simple set pieces (like boxes and public loudspeakers) contrast life inside and outside the palace

Think about…

■ what King Mattias learns about leading a country ■

whether you agree with the ministers’ view that adults with educations should be the decision-makers

■

if you were writing a second part to the play, what would happen next, and why

Be a good theater citizen…

During the performance, at times the actors will need you to be a quiet audience and at other times, they will ask you to participate. So, it’s extra important for you to:

Written by Mattias Andersson

Presenting Underwriter HRH Foundation Festival Co-Chairs The Honorable Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Marilyn Carlson Nelson, and Barbro Osher This presentation is supported by the Swedish Arts Council and the Nordic Culture Fund.

Major support is provided by the Honorable Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Mrs. Marilyn Carlson Nelson and Dr. Glen Nelson, the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation, David M. Rubenstein, and the State Plaza Hotel.

International Programming at the Kennedy Center is made possible through the generosity of the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.

Additional support for Performances for Young Audiences is provided in part by Adobe Foundation; The Clark Charitable Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Macy*s Foundation; The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; U.S. Department of Education; Washington Gas; and by generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund, and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas.

What happens when an 11-year-old boy becomes king of a troubled kingdom? Come along and find out as Sweden’s Backa Teater brings a 1923 children’s novel to life on stage as a play—and a problem-solving adventure that requires your help!

Major support for the Kennedy Center’s educational programs is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

—as of December 31, 2012

stay quiet during the show

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge

■

follow the directions of the performers

Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center.

■

move quickly but safely if instructed to do so

Learn more about Education at The Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org/education

pay attention and participate during audience and group discussions

Little King Mattias

and Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

■

■

PERFORMANCE GUIDE

Michael M. Kaiser President

Cuesheet

SWEDEN’S BACKA TEATER

David M. Rubenstein Chairman

The contents of this Cuesheet do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. © 2013 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Please recycle this Cuesheet by sharing it with friends!

Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by

Becoming a King WHAT HAPPENS IN THE PLAY

A PLAY BASED ON A BOOK

THE KING’S CABINET

In an imaginary kingdom, young Prince Mattias suddenly becomes an orphan— and king—when his father dies. Until then, the boy led a comfortable life inside the palace walls, unaware of the hardships facing the kingdom’s adults and children. Suddenly, he must try to understand how government works and what it means to be a responsible leader.

Little King Mattias is a play—a story told on stage with actors, costumes, lighting, and props. The story is adapted from King Matt the First, a children’s novel written by Polish author and doctor Janusz Korczak in 1923. Given that Korczak wrote about orphans and children, you might not be surprised that he ran an orphanage and promoted the rights of children. In his writings, he tried to help young readers understand the difficult decisions of adult life. If you know the book, you might notice that the story has been changed to be performed on stage for today’s audiences. For example, although the play does not take place during a set time, you will likely recognize the problems the kingdom faces—among them, a financial crisis similar to what the United States and many nations around the world are currently facing.

King Mattias doesn’t run his kingdom by himself. His government has senior officers, called ministers, in charge of different aspects of running the country—finance, education, the environment, defense, justice (fighting crime and managing courts), and health.

This group is called the cabinet.

ALL PHOTOS BY OLA KJELBYE

At first, it seems like it might be easy, but then he meets Felicia, an 11-yearold girl who lives in the kingdom.

She helps Mattias see how recent government decisions recommended

by Mattias’ ministers have affected the citizens. Outraged, he decides to make big changes.

THE U.S. TEAM In the United States, the president also assigns people to manage major responsibilities, and here are some of their jobs: The Secretary of the Treasury The Secretary of Education The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency The Secretary of Defense The Attorney General (the head of the Department of Justice) The Secretary of Health and Human Services Do you know who currently holds these U.S. government positions? If not, before or after the performance, look them up (and look up the rest of the President’s cabinet) and learn a little more about what they do. If you could serve in one of these jobs, which one would you choose? Why?

BUDGET TALKS As the young king soon realizes, solving a nation’s problems takes imagination, knowledge, and, of course, money.

Leaders of all countries (and kingdoms) create a plan—called a budget—that measures how much money they will receive and how they will spend it to run the nation. But, it’s not easy because people strongly disagree about what is most important.

What do you think are the biggest problems facing the United States today?

Facing American children? On what do you think government should spend more or less money? During the performance, get ready to voice your opinions.

Becoming a King WHAT HAPPENS IN THE PLAY

A PLAY BASED ON A BOOK

THE KING’S CABINET

In an imaginary kingdom, young Prince Mattias suddenly becomes an orphan— and king—when his father dies. Until then, the boy led a comfortable life inside the palace walls, unaware of the hardships facing the kingdom’s adults and children. Suddenly, he must try to understand how government works and what it means to be a responsible leader.

Little King Mattias is a play—a story told on stage with actors, costumes, lighting, and props. The story is adapted from King Matt the First, a children’s novel written by Polish author and doctor Janusz Korczak in 1923. Given that Korczak wrote about orphans and children, you might not be surprised that he ran an orphanage and promoted the rights of children. In his writings, he tried to help young readers understand the difficult decisions of adult life. If you know the book, you might notice that the story has been changed to be performed on stage for today’s audiences. For example, although the play does not take place during a set time, you will likely recognize the problems the kingdom faces—among them, a financial crisis similar to what the United States and many nations around the world are currently facing.

King Mattias doesn’t run his kingdom by himself. His government has senior officers, called ministers, in charge of different aspects of running the country—finance, education, the environment, defense, justice (fighting crime and managing courts), and health.

This group is called the cabinet.

ALL PHOTOS BY OLA KJELBYE

At first, it seems like it might be easy, but then he meets Felicia, an 11-yearold girl who lives in the kingdom.

She helps Mattias see how recent government decisions recommended

by Mattias’ ministers have affected the citizens. Outraged, he decides to make big changes.

THE U.S. TEAM In the United States, the president also assigns people to manage major responsibilities, and here are some of their jobs: The Secretary of the Treasury The Secretary of Education The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency The Secretary of Defense The Attorney General (the head of the Department of Justice) The Secretary of Health and Human Services Do you know who currently holds these U.S. government positions? If not, before or after the performance, look them up (and look up the rest of the President’s cabinet) and learn a little more about what they do. If you could serve in one of these jobs, which one would you choose? Why?

BUDGET TALKS As the young king soon realizes, solving a nation’s problems takes imagination, knowledge, and, of course, money.

Leaders of all countries (and kingdoms) create a plan—called a budget—that measures how much money they will receive and how they will spend it to run the nation. But, it’s not easy because people strongly disagree about what is most important.

What do you think are the biggest problems facing the United States today?

Facing American children? On what do you think government should spend more or less money? During the performance, get ready to voice your opinions.

Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education Nordic Cool 2013 is presented in cooperation with the Nordic Council of Ministers

Watch for…

■ how the actors playing ministers, or government officers, each play a second role as citizens in the kingdom—this is called doubling ■

how Felicia sneaks in and out of the palace

■

how the costumes and simple set pieces (like boxes and public loudspeakers) contrast life inside and outside the palace

Think about…

■ what King Mattias learns about leading a country ■

whether you agree with the ministers’ view that adults with educations should be the decision-makers

■

if you were writing a second part to the play, what would happen next, and why

Be a good theater citizen…

During the performance, at times the actors will need you to be a quiet audience and at other times, they will ask you to participate. So, it’s extra important for you to:

Written by Mattias Andersson

Presenting Underwriter HRH Foundation Festival Co-Chairs The Honorable Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Marilyn Carlson Nelson, and Barbro Osher This presentation is supported by the Swedish Arts Council and the Nordic Culture Fund.

Major support is provided by the Honorable Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Mrs. Marilyn Carlson Nelson and Dr. Glen Nelson, the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation, David M. Rubenstein, and the State Plaza Hotel.

International Programming at the Kennedy Center is made possible through the generosity of the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.

Additional support for Performances for Young Audiences is provided in part by Adobe Foundation; The Clark Charitable Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Macy*s Foundation; The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; U.S. Department of Education; Washington Gas; and by generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund, and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas.

What happens when an 11-year-old boy becomes king of a troubled kingdom? Come along and find out as Sweden’s Backa Teater brings a 1923 children’s novel to life on stage as a play—and a problem-solving adventure that requires your help!

Major support for the Kennedy Center’s educational programs is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

—as of December 31, 2012

stay quiet during the show

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge

■

follow the directions of the performers

Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center.

■

move quickly but safely if instructed to do so

Learn more about Education at The Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org/education

pay attention and participate during audience and group discussions

Little King Mattias

and Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

■

■

PERFORMANCE GUIDE

Michael M. Kaiser President

Cuesheet

SWEDEN’S BACKA TEATER

David M. Rubenstein Chairman

The contents of this Cuesheet do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. © 2013 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Please recycle this Cuesheet by sharing it with friends!

Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by