This is gradually being developed into an overview of the CP situation, past and present, for each country. There are many external and internal links to detailed corporal punishment information, including legal, procedural or practical aspects, from official documents or from other reliable published reports. Also, Spankmanuk, can you shed any light on the discrepancy between your memory of the spanking scene and Sir John's? In my copy's version, Fiona Tonkin is dragged to her spanking by her skirt. Her expression of resignation to the spanking just prior to being placed over her stage Mother's knee is classic! It could be the carrying under the arm in other performances may explain why a guy in 'drag' was cast as the Mother? (Even I'd consider dressing in drag for that role, & that's really saying something!) Perhaps it would have been a bit much for an older female lead to carry the naughty little imp to her fate so a male was cast? Just spaculating.

You can also view the links to 2015's items for all countries combined as a single date sequence at News Chronology 2015)Overview, with links to numerous press extracts, of the 1967 Gibbens inquiry into excessive canings at this UK boys' reformatory. The inquiry led to its immediate closure.

All press cuttings or other factual material relevant to formal corporal punishment gratefully received. Please quote source and date if at all possible. In any event I suspect you will not be satisfied until you have access to the original stage directions(therebeing mo dialog for the scene in question!).I didn't know such things were available ! Does one just write to the BBC or is there some sort of 'vault" you can visit? Corporal punishment: Is it effective? An empirical study of school punishment records, by Harold A. Hoff

Singapore is one of few countries today where formal CP is an official part of the disciplinary regime in the military. New text added. Infact, I originally saw it performed on TV not knowing there was a spanking in it. (Yes, I have a cultured side!) Interviewed performers referred to the fact their performance was celebrating the 150th. anniversary of "La Fille Mal Gardee". (I wonder what that translates to in English?) It is ironical, then, that the Aussie ballet didn't adhere more closely to the original performance of what presumably occurred in 1839. Whatever, I'm jolly glad they opted for the more modern interpretation! Perhaps it was just a good chance to get a spanking into their performance! You can also view the links to 2013's items for all countries combined as a single date sequence at News Chronology 2013) The Whip and the Rod: An Account of Corporal Punishment among all Nations and for all Purposes, by R.G. Van Yelyr (illustrated) You can also view the links to 2012's items for all countries combined as a single date sequence at News Chronology 2012)