Teachers and Drama Educators—A New Classroom Companion for The Lion on the Left
We have an exciting new resource for you! Our latest Classroom Companion for The Lion on the Left by Paul Lewis is now available, packed with engaging activities, discussion prompts, and creative exercises designed to help students connect deeply with this poetic and thought-provoking play.
Why Teach The Lion on the Left?
Set in a town where change is inevitable, The Lion on the Left follows Veronica, a teenager determined to save a beloved bronze lion statue from being removed when her great-uncle’s department store closes. As she fights to hold onto the past, the play explores memory, nostalgia, and the emotional weight of objects and places. Through magical realism, humor, and heartfelt moments, the story asks:
- How do we preserve what matters to us?
- Why do certain places and objects hold such deep emotional significance?
- When is it time to let go, and when is it worth fighting for the past?
With its relatable themes and lyrical storytelling, The Lion on the Left is a fantastic choice for high school theater programs and literature classes. The play invites students to reflect on the spaces, objects, and traditions that shape who they are while encouraging deep discussions about how we navigate personal and community change.
What’s Inside the Classroom Companion?
This free teaching guide is designed to help students explore The Lion on the Left through interactive and creative activities! Inside, you’ll find:
✔ Pre-Reading Questions to get students thinking about memory, place, and personal connections to objects.
✔ Post-Reading Discussion Prompts to analyze the play’s themes of nostalgia, change, and emotional attachment.
✔ Character Analysis Activities like designing a keepsake box, writing a conversation with the lion, or mapping a character’s emotional “footprints.”
✔ Investigating Culture & History research projects on urban development, the decline of department stores, and the role of public statues in preserving memory.
✔ Creative Activities including designing a time capsule, writing from the lion’s perspective, and imagining what happens to the statue after the play ends.
✔ Text Connections linking the play to books, films, and cultural topics about nostalgia, memory, and preserving the past.
✔ Reflection & Assessment Ideas to encourage deeper personal connections with the play’s themes.
Bring The Lion on the Left to Your Classroom!
Whether you’re directing a production or using the play in your curriculum, this Classroom Companion provides everything you need to spark meaningful discussions and creative exploration.
📥 Download the Classroom Companion now and bring the world of The Lion on the Left to life for your students!