The Story Behind… I Love You, Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die by Mark Wheeller and Annette Hulme(paperback)

I Love You, Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die tells the tragic true story of the death of Daniel Spargo-Mabbs following an MDMA overdose.

This book offers a unique and useful guide for teaching/studying this play and includes a detailed scheme of work for teachers using the play as a set text in the EDUQAS GCSE Drama examination.

Chapters: 

Foreword: Daniel Spargo-Mabbs by Izzy Forrester (Dan’s drama teacher)
Preface: OYT 2015 – Context
Chapter 1: A Play?
Chapter 2: The Commission
Chapter 3: Interviews
Chapter 4: First Draft (1)
Chapter 5: Early (Testimony) Rehearsals
Chapter 6: First Draft (2)
Chapter 7: Meeting
Chapter 8: Rehearsal Process
Chapter 9: Set Design
Chapter 10: Multimedia Design
Chapter 11: Musical Underscore
Chapter 12: Hoodie
Chapter 13: Costume
Chapter 14: Audience of Family and Friends
Chapter 15: Public Performance/Premiere
Chapter 16: I Love You, Mum – The Play
OYT – Where Are They Now?
The Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation
Scheme of Work: ‘ILYMIPIWD’

Additional Learning Resources for Teachers:

• Video documentary of the making of I Love You, Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die 
• DSM Foundation 
• DVD – Production of I Love You, Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die and interview with playwright Mark Wheeller – £19.99
• YouTube – insight from playwright Mark Wheeller

This poignant and eminently readable biography of the play is drawn from interviews with Dan’s family, friends and the OYT company.

‘I hadn’t realised how much scope for creativity there was with a play taken completely from other people’s words.’ Jacob Spargo-Mabbs – Daniel’s elder brother.

‘Fiona told her story like a piece of music. I remember crying as I related it to my wife – not because it was sad, but because it was brimful of love.’ Paul Ibbott – Composer of the underscore for the OYT production

‘When Harry (playing Dan) left the cast I remember thinking “What are we going to do now?” The hoodie symbolising Dan was such an amazing concept to show everyone had a part of Dan in them and they were also a part of him and… Dan could be anyone.’ Alysha Jade Patis – OYT performer