AS and A Level Eduqas Component 1: Theatre Workshop (additional texts from September 2021)
Broken Biscuits Tom Wells
A coming of age story about three friends as they prepare to leave school. It looks at issues of growing up and relationships and how these change as they get older. It also looks at issues of identity and sexuality. It was first performed at the Live Theatre, Newcastle in 2016.
Dear Evan Hansen Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
It has been called the most vital and important musical of a generation. It is a timely and timeless musical about struggling to connect in a hyperconnected world. Evan Hansen is a young man with social anxiety disorder. He yearns to make connection with his peers and alongside the central narrative the dangers of social media are explored.
Elmina’s Kitchen Kwame Kwei-Armah
The play is set in a shabby West Indian cafe on Hackney's murder mile. In an area controlled by Yardies, one man's life is a daily battle to maintain an honest living and provide a stable life for his troublesome son. A thrilling, engaging portrait of a one-parent family struggling to stay within the law.
Emilia Morgan Lloyd Malcolm
A play that looks at the life of Emilia Bassanio the 17th century poet. It is a riotous exploration of the role of creative women in society and the way in which they fought for their voices to be heard. It received its acclaimed premiere at Shakespeare’s Globe in 2018. It won three Olivier Awards, including Best Entertainment or Comedy Play.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie Dan Gillespie and Tom MacRae
Inspired by a true story, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is the award-winning hit musical for today. Modern, contemporary, and relevant. Supported by his mother and his best friend, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies, and steps out of the darkness into the spotlight. Championing diversity and pride in who you are, this is both a popular and poignant text for young people.
Hang Debbie Tucker Green
A powerful play exploring a woman’s dilemma in making an unspeakable decision. It explores the clash between the character of the woman and the system in an un‐named country. A look at the knife-edge between justice and vengeance, where the victim has the chance to determine her perpetrator’s fate.
Lionboy Zizou Calder
The play tells the story of Charlie Ashanti – a boy who can speak to cats. When Charlie’s parents are kidnapped, he sets off on a rescue mission with a little help from a floating circus and its pride of performing lions. Charlie uses his wit and courage before it’s too late! The original production was performed by Complicité and mixed storytelling with circus skills and live percussion.
Moon on a Rainbow Shawl Errol John
The play is set in a community in Trinidad after the second world war. It explores the politics of sport and sexuality and how all the characters dream of escape. It is regarded as an important text exploring new themes and characters and was described as ‘a breakthrough in Britain for black-writing’.
Nine Night Natasha Gordon
A humorous play looking at the rituals at a Jamaican nine‐night wake. The play explores family and the links between generations. It is full of life and is a celebration of a life. It was premiered at the National Theatre in 2018.
Poet in ‘da Corner Debris Stevenson ft. Jammz
A poetic exploration of Dizzy Rascals album ‘Boy in the Corner’. It looks at the effect of the album on Debris as she goes on a journey, which mixes music, dance, and words, to find herself. It was originally co-commissioned by 14-18 NOW and the Royal Court Theatre in 2018.
The Barber Shop Chronicles Inua Ellams
Four generations of African men have gathered in barber shops to discuss the world. These are place where the banter can be barbed, and the truth is always telling. A heart-warming, hilarious and insightful new play that leaps from a Peckham to Johannesburg, Harare, Kampala, Lagos, and Accra over the course of a single day.
The Mountaintop Katori Hall
The play is set on the eve of Martin Luther King’s assassination, as he prepares in his motel room, to make his mountain-top speech. Winner of the Olivier Award for Best New Play 2009, it is a historical-fantastical two hander. The play is heart-breaking, humorous and breathtakingly powerful. It remains a relevant today, exploring being human in the face of inevitable death.
The Watsons Laura Wade
The text is based on an unfinished story by Jane Austen. This is a humorous meditation on the process of creating a text and how a writer tries to control the narrative. It is a clash of two worlds, two cultures across two centuries. It also looks at the creative process and looks at who is in control – the writer or the character?
Tituba Winsome Pinnock
A re‐telling of the Salem witch trials from the point of Tituba Indian, the enslaved servant. It explores racism, prejudice, and fear. The monologue also explores attitudes to religion and conformity. The play is taken from Women Centre Stage; a collection of eight short plays, that together demonstrate the range, depth, and richness of women’s writing for the stage.
Tuesday Alison Carr
The play centres on an ordinary Tuesday that suddenly turns very weird when a tear rips across the sky over the school yard. Not only that but is starts sucking up pupils and staff while at the same time raining down a whole new set of people. What happens when parallel worlds collide!