National Theatre of Scotland

Zinnie Harris's Julie: Research, discussion and tasks

Research, Discussions and Tasks:

Read the interviews with Zinnie Harris, Kai Fischer and Lizzie Strachan and discuss the following:

1) Discuss Julie's bird in its cage – does it symbolise anything and what is its  significance within the play?

2) What symbols are utilised in the play and how are they used?

3) Miss Julie is often discussed in terms of its representation of women; discuss the  representation of Julie and Christine in Strindberg's Miss Julie and Harris's Julie.

4) What role does class play in Julie?

5) Discuss morality in the play – is Strindberg punishing Julie's immorality or is he  damning societies attempts to stifle female sexuality?

6) The play finishes with Julie committing suicide – have a go at writing one of the  scenes that would follow this event:

• Christine enters to find Julie gone but John is still there – Christine wants to know where Julie is – how does this scene play out?
• John is on his own – how would his final closing monologue read?
• Julie's father returns and is told about her behaviour and her disappearance – how does he react, who does he believe, does he speak with John?

Resources compiled by Catrin Evans.