Performance interpretation of a drama text — AS & A Level Drama (9482) questions by topic
Extracts from As You Like It, The Lion and the Jewel, and A View from the Bridge anchor this performance-interpretation page's 75 questions, drawn from 2023 to 2025 papers and marked at 60 throughout. Explain again dominates the command words, asking you to convey a specific character's interpretation through selected moments within a defined extract rather than the whole play.
Because these extracts are shorter and more tightly focused than whole-play essays, submit your performance interpretation for instant marking to see whether the scheme rewards close attention to genre and historical context alongside character insight.
What examiners look for
- Examiners repeatedly note that some extracts and questions attracted only a handful of answers, with very few candidates showing awareness of genre or style.
- A recurring criticism is candidates describing relationships as complicated but then writing about a conventional family, or missing a character's less flattering traits, such as writing about misogyny as mere niceness.
- Some candidates did not attempt the question's actual focus, instead adopting a director's perspective or describing what a character says rather than performing the role, and few considered the historical context of costume.
- Strong answers, according to the reports, offered developed ideas for conveying cunning through veiled attempts to gauge another character's opinion, and appreciated the combative, symbolic nature of a developing relationship.
- Reports praise candidates who closely followed and quoted the text to structure their answer, and who 'performed' in the first person, acknowledging a character's mixed feelings such as love alongside a desire to compete.
May–June 2025, Paper 11
As You Like It – William Shakespeare. Read the specified extract: From: Beginning of Act 1, Scene 3, top of page 41 (Inside Duke Frederick's palace. Enter CELIA and ROSALIND.) Up…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Rivals – Richard Sheridan. Read the specified extract: From: Act 4, Scene 1, beginning of scene, page 39 (DAVID: Then, by the Mass, sir! I would do no such thing –) Up to and…
Answer this question and get it marked →A View from the Bridge – Arthur Miller. Read the specified extract: From: Act 2, towards the bottom of page 67 (BEATRICE: with fear, going to Eddie: I'll be back in an hour,…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Beatification of Area Boy – Wole Soyinka. Read the specified extract: From: Middle of page 46 (Exit TWO-FOUR. SANDA picks up a journal, makes some notes inside, and ticks off…
Answer this question and get it marked →Small Island – Helen Edmundson. Please note that there are two editions of this text with differing page numbers. Both sets of page numbers are referenced. Read the specified…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 12
As You Like It – William Shakespeare. Read the specified extract: From: Act 1, Scene 2, top of page 37 (Trumpet fanfare. Enter DUKE FREDERICK, LORDS, ORLANDO, CHARLES and…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Rivals – Richard Sheridan. Read the specified extract: From: Act 4, Scene 2, middle of page 42 (MRS MALAPROP: Why, thou perverse one!) Up to and including: Act 4, Scene 2,…
Answer this question and get it marked →A View from the Bridge – Arthur Miller. Read the specified extract: From: Act 2, top of page 58 (BEATRICE: They're going to get married next week, Eddie.) Up to and including: Act…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Beatification of Area Boy – Wole Soyinka. Read the specified extract: From: middle of page 97 (The BRIDE goes off, follows the money trail. As she reaches the High Table, she…
Answer this question and get it marked →Small Island – Helen Edmundson. Please note that there are two editions of this text with differing page numbers. Both sets of page numbers are referenced. Read the specified…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 13
As You Like It – William Shakespeare. Read the specified extract: From: Act 1, Scene 2, top of page 37 (Trumpet fanfare. Enter DUKE FREDERICK, LORDS, ORLANDO, CHARLES and…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Rivals – Richard Sheridan. Read the specified extract: From: Act 4, Scene 2, middle of page 42 (MRS MALAPROP: Why, thou perverse one!) Up to and including: Act 4, Scene 2,…
Answer this question and get it marked →A View from the Bridge – Arthur Miller. Read the specified extract: From: Act 2, top of page 58 (BEATRICE: They're going to get married next week, Eddie.) Up to and including: Act…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Beatification of Area Boy – Wole Soyinka. Read the specified extract: From: middle of page 97 (The BRIDE goes off, follows the money trail. As she reaches the High Table, she…
Answer this question and get it marked →Small Island – Helen Edmundson. Please note that there are two editions of this text with differing page numbers. Both sets of page numbers are referenced. Read the specified…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 11
As You Like It – William Shakespeare. From: Act 3, Scene 2. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of ROSALIND in selected moments from the extract to convey your…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Rivals – Richard Brinsley Sheridan. From: Act 2, Scene 1. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of ACRES in selected moments from the extract to convey your interpretation…
Answer this question and get it marked →A View from the Bridge – Arthur Miller. From: Act 1, p3 up to and including p8. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of CATHERINE in selected moments from the extract to…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Beatification of Area Boy – Wole Soyinka. From: p9 up to and including p13. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of the TRADER in selected moments from the extract to…
Answer this question and get it marked →Small Island – Helen Edmundson (after Andrea Levy). From: Act 1, Scene 3. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of GILBERT in selected moments from the extract to convey your…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 12
As You Like It – William Shakespeare. From: Act 3, Scene 2. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of ROSALIND in selected moments from the extract to convey your…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Rivals – Richard Brinsley Sheridan. From: Act 2, Scene 1. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of ACRES in selected moments from the extract to convey your interpretation…
Answer this question and get it marked →A View from the Bridge – Arthur Miller. From: Act 1, p3 up to and including p8. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of CATHERINE in selected moments from the extract to…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Beatification of Area Boy – Wole Soyinka. From: p9 up to and including p13. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of the TRADER in selected moments from the extract to…
Answer this question and get it marked →Small Island – Helen Edmundson (after Andrea Levy). From: Act 1, Scene 3. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of GILBERT in selected moments from the extract to convey your…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 13
As You Like It – William Shakespeare. From: Act 3, Scene 3. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of TOUCHSTONE in selected moments from the extract to convey your…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Rivals – Richard Brinsley Sheridan. From: Act 3, Scene 3. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of MRS MALAPROP in selected moments from the extract to convey your…
Answer this question and get it marked →A View from the Bridge – Arthur Miller. From: Act 1, p28 up to and including p32. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of CATHERINE in selected moments from the extract to…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Beatification of Area Boy – Wole Soyinka. From: p21 up to and including p27. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of the BIG MAN SHOPPER in selected moments from the…
Answer this question and get it marked →Small Island – Helen Edmundson (after Andrea Levy). From: Act 1, Scene 6. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of HORTENSE in selected moments from the extract to convey your…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 11
As You Like It – William Shakespeare. From: Act 3, Scene 5. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of SILVIUS in selected moments from the extract to convey your interpretation…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Rivals – Richard Sheridan. From: Act 3, Scene 4, opening of scene, middle of page 35, ACRES: Indeed, David – do you think I become it so? Up to and including: End of the…
Answer this question and get it marked →A View from the Bridge – Arthur Miller. From: Act 1, middle of page 33 (Lights out on them and up on ALFIERI seated behind his desk.) up to and including: top of page 38 (ALFIERI:…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Beatification of Area Boy – Wole Soyinka. From: towards the top of page 80 (SANDA: So Maroko is really gone? Gone for good?) up to and including: middle of page 87, end of the…
Answer this question and get it marked →Small Island – Helen Edmundson. From: Act 1, Scene 2, towards the top of page 40 OR middle of page 42 (BERNARD: Queenie! Are you listening to me?) up to and including: Act 1,…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 12
As You Like It – William Shakespeare. From: Act 5, Scene 4, page 100, from the beginning of the scene (Enter DUKE SENIOR, AMIENS, JAQUES, ORLANDO, OLIVER and CELIA. DUKE SENIOR:…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Rivals – Richard Sheridan. From: Act 1, Scene 2, middle of page 4 (Enter JULIA. LYDIA: My dearest Julia, how delighted am I! – [Embrace.]) up to and including Act 1, Scene 2,…
Answer this question and get it marked →A View from the Bridge – Arthur Miller. From: Act 2, bottom of page 60 (CATHERINE: How'm I gonna find a place tonight?) up to and including: Act 2, middle of page 65 (EDDIE: … you…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Beatification of Area Boy – Wole Soyinka. From: middle of page 41 (SANDA: All right, all right, I'm coming.) up to and including middle of page 46 (BOYKO: It's no use, sir, I…
Answer this question and get it marked →Small Island – Helen Edmundson and Madeleine Stenham. From: Act 1, Scene 1, page 24/22 (HORTENSE: [To audience] It was around this time I started to notice Michael Roberts.) up to…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 13
As You Like It – William Shakespeare. From: Act 3, Scene 5. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of SILVIUS in selected moments from the extract to convey your interpretation…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Rivals – Richard Sheridan. From: Act 3, Scene 4, opening of scene, middle of page 35, ACRES: Indeed, David – do you think I become it so? Up to and including: End of the…
Answer this question and get it marked →A View from the Bridge – Arthur Miller. From: Act 1, middle of page 33 (Lights out on them and up on ALFIERI seated behind his desk.) up to and including: top of page 38 (ALFIERI:…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Beatification of Area Boy – Wole Soyinka. From: towards the top of page 80 (SANDA: So Maroko is really gone? Gone for good?) up to and including: middle of page 87, end of the…
Answer this question and get it marked →Small Island – Helen Edmundson. From: Act 1, Scene 2, towards the top of page 40 OR middle of page 42 (BERNARD: Queenie! Are you listening to me?) up to and including: Act 1,…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 11
The Tempest – William Shakespeare. From: Act 1, Scene 2, towards the top of page 13 (PROSPERO: 'Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself / Upon thy wicked dam, come…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Country Wife – William Wycherley. From: the beginning of Act 4, Scene 1, page 46 (LUCY: 'Well, madam, now have I dressed you …'). Up to and including: Act 4, Scene 1, bottom…
Answer this question and get it marked →Death of a Salesman – Arthur Miller. From: Act 1, bottom of page 49 (HAPPY [grabbing BIFF, shouts]: 'Wait a minute! I got an idea.'). Up to and including: End of Act 1, bottom of…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Lion and the Jewel – Wole Soyinka. From: 'Morning' middle of page 5 (LAKUNLE: 'A prophet has honour except / In his own home.'). Up to and including: 'Morning' page 9 (SIDI:…
Answer this question and get it marked →Enron – Lucy Prebble. From: the opening of Act 1, Scene 6, page 34 ('TIME IS MONEY' / 'A memory' / DAUGHTER (voice-over): 'One, two, three, four, five, six … seven, six …'). Up to…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 12
The Tempest – William Shakespeare. From: Act 1, Scene 2, towards the top of page 13 (PROSPERO: 'Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself / Upon thy wicked dam, come…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Country Wife – William Wycherley. From: the beginning of Act 4, Scene 1, page 46 (LUCY: 'Well, madam, now have I dressed you …'). Up to and including: Act 4, Scene 1, bottom…
Answer this question and get it marked →Death of a Salesman – Arthur Miller. From: Act 1, bottom of page 49 (HAPPY [grabbing BIFF, shouts]: 'Wait a minute! I got an idea.'). Up to and including: End of Act 1, bottom of…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Lion and the Jewel – Wole Soyinka. From: 'Morning' middle of page 5 (LAKUNLE: 'A prophet has honour except / In his own home.'). Up to and including: 'Morning' page 9 (SIDI:…
Answer this question and get it marked →Enron – Lucy Prebble. From: the opening of Act 1, Scene 6, page 34 ('TIME IS MONEY' / 'A memory' / DAUGHTER (voice-over): 'One, two, three, four, five, six … seven, six …'). Up to…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 13
The Tempest – William Shakespeare. From: Act 2, Scene 1, bottom of page 25 (SEBASTIAN: 'What a strange drowsiness possesses them!'). Up to and including: page 29 (ALONSO: 'Why,…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Country Wife – William Wycherley. From: Act 3, Scene 2, middle of page 36 (ALITHEA: 'Is it for your honour or mine, to suffer a man to make love to me, who am to marry you…
Answer this question and get it marked →Death of a Salesman – Arthur Miller. From: Act 1, towards the top of page 38 ('[New music is heard, a high rollicking tune.]' / BEN: 'Father was a very great and a very…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Lion and the Jewel – Wole Soyinka. From: 'Night' towards the bottom of page 45 (BAROKA: 'Now let us once again take up the questioning.'). Up to and including: towards the…
Answer this question and get it marked →Enron – Lucy Prebble. From: the opening of Act 1, Scene 3, page 14 ('KEN LAY'S OFFICE, 1996' / BILL CLINTON (on screen): 'I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 11
The Tempest – William Shakespeare. From: Act 2, Scene 1, p30, where Gonzalo opens with 'Beseech you, sir, be merry; you have cause ...' Up to and including: Ariel puts the…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Country Wife – William Wycherley. From: Act 5, Scene 4 (Sir Jasper enters and accuses Horner of deceiving him). Up to and including: the end of the scene. EITHER (a) How would…
Answer this question and get it marked →Death of a Salesman – Arthur Miller. From: Act 2, p55 up to and including p59. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of LINDA in selected moments from the extract to convey…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Lion and the Jewel – Wole Soyinka. From: Night section, p35, up to and including p40. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of LAKUNLE in selected moments from the extract…
Answer this question and get it marked →Enron – Lucy Prebble. From: Act 1, Scene 8, p45, up to and including p53. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of ANDY FASTOW in selected moments from the extract to convey…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 12
The Tempest – William Shakespeare. From: Act 1, Scene 2, p9 (Prospero questions Ariel about the tempest) up to and including p12. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Country Wife – William Wycherley. From: Act 3, Scene 2, p40 up to and including p42. EITHER (a) How would you direct selected moments from the extract to create comedy from…
Answer this question and get it marked →Death of a Salesman – Arthur Miller. From: Act 2, p86 up to and including p91. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of BIFF in selected moments from the extract to convey…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Lion and the Jewel – Wole Soyinka. From: Night, p49 up to and including p54. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of SIDI in selected moments from the extract to convey…
Answer this question and get it marked →Enron – Lucy Prebble. From: Act 3, Scene 2, p96 up to and including p102. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of ANDY FASTOW in selected moments from the extract to create…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 13
The Tempest – William Shakespeare. From: Act 2, Scene 1, p30 up to and including p35. EITHER (a) How would you, as a designer, use set, lighting and sound in selected moments from…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Country Wife – William Wycherley. From: Act 5, Scene 4, p73 up to and including p78. EITHER (a) How would you direct selected moments from the extract to create a comical…
Answer this question and get it marked →Death of a Salesman – Arthur Miller. From: Act 2, p55 up to and including p59. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of LINDA in selected moments from the extract to convey…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Lion and the Jewel – Wole Soyinka. From: Morning, p35 up to and including p40. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of LAKUNLE in selected moments from the extract to…
Answer this question and get it marked →Enron – Lucy Prebble. From: Act 1, Scene 8, p45 up to and including p53. EITHER (a) How would you perform the role of ANDY FASTOW in selected moments from the extract to convey…
Answer this question and get it marked →