A-level Drama and Theatre Specification Specification for first teaching in 2016
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Non-exam assessment (NEA) for summer 2025
NEA work samples for this subject are now submitted online using Centre Marks Submission on Centre Services. Read the guidance on submitting NEA.
This subject content is assessed in a written exam.
See Component 1: Drama and theatre for details.
Students must develop knowledge and understanding of the following analytical framework for making, performing, interpreting and understanding drama and theatre.
Students must study and explore practically two set plays, one chosen from List A and one chosen from List B.
There are three prohibited play combinations for the exam: students must not answer on both Butterworth’s Jerusalem from List A and Teale’s Brontë , Gurira’s The Convert , or Ellams’ Three Sisters from List B. This is because these texts were written at a similar time.
Study should be targeted at developing ideas for how the plays chosen may be interpreted and performed.
For plays in List A, for the purposes of the exam students must be prepared to adopt the perspective of at least two of the following three roles:For plays in List B, for the purposes of the exam students must be prepared to adopt the perspective of director, performer and designer (lighting, sound, set, costume).
Students must also develop Knowledge and understanding of the content listed, in particular:Students must not answer Section A or Section B of the exam on the same play they answer on for Section C ie the live production seen cannot be one of their set plays.
Specific editions are not prescribed for these plays. However, we've listed the editions we use to set questions on our website in the A-level Drama and Theatre: Notes and guidance: Set plays document.
If you wish to use a different edition, we recommend you source a copy of the one we use to make sure it's similar. This will enable your students to access the questions on the paper. Adaptations are not appropriate.
List A – these plays have been selected to represent significant drama through the ages.
These plays have been selected to represent 20th and 21st century drama.
Specific editions are prescribed for these plays.
Please find the ISBN of your chosen set play on our website in the A-level Drama and Theatre: Notes and guidance: Set plays document.
Students must learn how to analyse and evaluate the work of live theatre makers (performers/designers/directors).
Students should aim to understand productions in terms of the relevant content listed in Knowledge and understanding , and in addition:
Students should learn how to:
Prior to seeing a performance students are expected to have undertaken background research.
Live theatre could include:Productions may be professional or amateur (not peer).
Students certificating after 1 January 2019 are required to experience live performance – in which they are a member of the audience in the same performance space as the performers. This may be a professional or amateur, but not a peer, performance. Schools/colleges must submit a ‘Live Performance Statement’ (which will be available on our website) to confirm that all students have completed this requirement. Failure to provide this statement prior to 1 May in the year of certification will be treated as maladministration. Students may still complete the ‘Live theatre production’ section of the exam paper referring to digital recordings or streamed productions.
Teachers must ensure that students see at least one performance which will enable them to access all of the Section C exam questions and the mark scheme in full. This performance must:
Students must not answer Section A or Section B of the exam on the same play they answer on for Section C ie the live production seen cannot be one of their set plays.