This book reads like a welcome conversation with an experienced colleague in the staffroom, and it is full of insights from Jason Hanlan's years as a drama teacher and examiner/moderator.
In the first part, Hanlan offers overall advice on performance exams, including guidance on how to select and rehearse plays.
The book doesn't advocate or link to one specific exam specification, rather it reflects OFQUAL requirements in general for performance exams and uses the tone and language of all specifications. This is both a strength and weakness. Its ‘strength’ is that it means the guidance is applicable for every drama teacher; the ‘weakness' is that it doesn't have enough depth and clarification, therefore you couldn't read this book without then going and checking the specific nuances of the exam board which your students are working under. This is a minor quibble, because although that extra cross-check is needed it won't take long, and this guide will have set the reader up well to know what to look out for.
The second and main part of the book then lists 200 plays which Hanlan has seen on a school visit, as a visiting examiner, or used with his own students. The plays suggested work with 16–19 years-olds for use at KS4 and 5.
The layout of each suggested play is in a table with sections. It outlines casting, then offers guidance and consideration for teachers, such as: warnings on scenes/issues, locations, rehearsal ideas and a plot summary. The plot summaries vary in quality; some read like ‘back-cover-blurbs' with no ‘plot-spoilers', whereas others feel more usefully like the author's own words and give clarity on what the play is about. In terms of the variety of plays, there is diversity, including in terms of casting, themes, classic and recent pieces.
The end result is a very useful book, with the first section especially helpful to those early in their careers, or those perhaps in need a of a quick refresh; the second part will then be a reference tool to be used again and again – it'll sit close by on your shelf to delve in and out of for years.