Letter from Elsie

Dear Lyceum
As you are probably aware your London theatre counterparts were closed during another plague in the 17th century, and the children's rhyme Ring-a-ring a Roses is said to have arisen from that. The word 'roses' referring to the red blotches on the skin.
Admittedly we are not using the term 'plague' just now, but 'coronavirus pandemic'. Semantics eh! I'm sure you can envisage a play encompassing then and now, with the pure voices of children a counterpoint to fear and horror.
We are all in 'lockdown' - a great time for reflection:
Ring-a-ring a Roses (2020)
Ring-a-ring a roses
A pocket full of posies
Atishoo, atishoo
We all fall down.
Plagues and pandemics,
flood, famine, fires.
Ring-ring a roses.
They all roll round.
Round and round this
rugged rock, round our
lonely planet. And
still the Earth turns;
the ozone breathes.
Atishoo, atishoo.
We are mosaic, each
small, separate, only
techno connect.
On-line we walk
the wire. Shopping
the new faith. Amen.
We all fall down.
War on the unseen,
battles without arms.
Weapons of care
wielded by medics.
Ring-a-ring a roses
A pocket full of posies
We all fall down.
We are mosaic, now
at a distance.
Care and kindness
surge, not gone.
Techno connect to give.
Ring-a-ring a roses
A pocket full of posies.
Time to reflect on
our lonely planet,
our disconnect.
Rainbows, symbols
of hope - a reason
to smile - not fear.
Ring-a-ring a roses.
You'll be back soon I hope dear theatre.
Love
Elsie Horobin
Tags: From Audience