Oxford Cambridge and RSA
GCE
Drama and Theatre
H459/31: Analysing performance
*1852165390*
A Level
Monday 2 June 2025 – Morning
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer two questions on the theme you have studied in Section A and the question in
Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 60.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of written communication will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk
(*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [601/8272/6] DC (CE) 350521/2
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
Section A
Answer both questions on one theme in this section.
Theme 1: Conflict
Use one performance text in your answer to each question.
Use a different performance text for each question.
Write the name of the performance text you have studied at the start of each answer.
, 2
Black Watch – Gregory Burke
Hamlet – William Shakespeare
Necessary Targets – Eve Ensler
Oh! What a Lovely War – Joan Littlewood
The Long and the Short and the Tall – Willis Hall
1 Select a character from the play you have studied. As an actor, how would you vary
your pacing to show conflicts in that character’s mind?
Refer to at least three scenes to support your answer.
AND
2 As a set designer, how would you create opportunities for the actors to bring out
conflicts in the drama in the play you have studied?
Refer to the opening scenes to support your answer. [15] Theme 2: Family
Dynamics
Use one performance text in your answer to each question.
Use a different performance text for each question.
Write the name of the performance text you have studied at the start of each answer.
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg – Peter Nichols
King Lear – William Shakespeare
Live Like Pigs – John Arden
The Caucasian Chalk Circle – Bertolt Brecht
The House of Bernarda Alba – Federico García Lorca
3 As a director, how would you balance the tensions between characters in the
scene or
scenes of the play you have studied?
AND
4 Select a character from the play you have studied. As an actor, how would you
perform this role to help build dramatic tension within the family?
Refer to at least three scenes to support your answer.
Theme 3: Heroes and Villains
Use one performance text in your answer to each question.
Use a different performance text for each question.
Write the name of the performance text you have studied at the start of each answer.
© OCR 2025 H459/31 Jun25
, 3
Amadeus – Peter Shaffer
Caligula – Albert Camus
Frankenstein – Nick Dear
Othello – William Shakespeare
The Love of the Nightingale – Timberlake Wertenbaker
5 What design elements would you use to create a sinister atmosphere in the opening
scenes of
the play you have studied?
AND
6 As an actor playing a character with villainous qualities, what acting skills would you
use to make the character likeable or dislikeable to the audience?
Refer to at least three scenes to support your answer.
Turn over
Section B
At the start of your answer write the name, venue and date (month and year) of the live
performance you have seen.
7* Consider the range of design elements in the live production you have seen.
Explain how these created opportunities for the actors to bring out their character
or characters to maximum dramatic effect. [30]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
© OCR 2025 H459/31 Jun25
GCE
Drama and Theatre
H459/31: Analysing performance
*1852165390*
A Level
Monday 2 June 2025 – Morning
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer two questions on the theme you have studied in Section A and the question in
Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 60.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of written communication will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk
(*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [601/8272/6] DC (CE) 350521/2
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
Section A
Answer both questions on one theme in this section.
Theme 1: Conflict
Use one performance text in your answer to each question.
Use a different performance text for each question.
Write the name of the performance text you have studied at the start of each answer.
, 2
Black Watch – Gregory Burke
Hamlet – William Shakespeare
Necessary Targets – Eve Ensler
Oh! What a Lovely War – Joan Littlewood
The Long and the Short and the Tall – Willis Hall
1 Select a character from the play you have studied. As an actor, how would you vary
your pacing to show conflicts in that character’s mind?
Refer to at least three scenes to support your answer.
AND
2 As a set designer, how would you create opportunities for the actors to bring out
conflicts in the drama in the play you have studied?
Refer to the opening scenes to support your answer. [15] Theme 2: Family
Dynamics
Use one performance text in your answer to each question.
Use a different performance text for each question.
Write the name of the performance text you have studied at the start of each answer.
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg – Peter Nichols
King Lear – William Shakespeare
Live Like Pigs – John Arden
The Caucasian Chalk Circle – Bertolt Brecht
The House of Bernarda Alba – Federico García Lorca
3 As a director, how would you balance the tensions between characters in the
scene or
scenes of the play you have studied?
AND
4 Select a character from the play you have studied. As an actor, how would you
perform this role to help build dramatic tension within the family?
Refer to at least three scenes to support your answer.
Theme 3: Heroes and Villains
Use one performance text in your answer to each question.
Use a different performance text for each question.
Write the name of the performance text you have studied at the start of each answer.
© OCR 2025 H459/31 Jun25
, 3
Amadeus – Peter Shaffer
Caligula – Albert Camus
Frankenstein – Nick Dear
Othello – William Shakespeare
The Love of the Nightingale – Timberlake Wertenbaker
5 What design elements would you use to create a sinister atmosphere in the opening
scenes of
the play you have studied?
AND
6 As an actor playing a character with villainous qualities, what acting skills would you
use to make the character likeable or dislikeable to the audience?
Refer to at least three scenes to support your answer.
Turn over
Section B
At the start of your answer write the name, venue and date (month and year) of the live
performance you have seen.
7* Consider the range of design elements in the live production you have seen.
Explain how these created opportunities for the actors to bring out their character
or characters to maximum dramatic effect. [30]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
© OCR 2025 H459/31 Jun25
