AQA A-Level Drama and Theatre – Previous and Practice ‘Our Country’s
Good’ Questions
Question 18 Wertenbaker: Our Country’s Good 2018 Extract from Act One, Scene
Eleven of Wertenbaker
Answer all parts of this question in reference to the extract printed in the enclosed
insert. You must make specific reference to the social, cultural and/or historical
context of Our Country’s Good in your answers and ensure that your interpretative
ideas are appropriate to the play as a whole.
1 8 . 1 Explain and justify how you would direct the performers from line 72 to line
123 in order to highlight the fear that the convicts feel towards Major Ross. [10
marks]
1 8 . 2 As a performer, explain and justify how you would perform the role of Ralph
in his exchanges with Liz and Duckling, in order to show his softening attitudes
towards the convict women at this point in the play. [10 marks]
1 8 . 3 As a set designer, outline your ideas for this extract. Explain and justify how
these ideas would help to create an appropriate environment for the action at this
point in the play. [10 marks]
Question 18 Wertenbaker: Our Country’s Good 2019 Act One, Scene Six
Answer all parts of this question in reference to the extract printed in the enclosed
Insert. You must make specific reference to the social, cultural and/or historical
context of Our Country’s Good in your answers and ensure that your interpretative
ideas are appropriate to the play as a whole.
1 8 . 1 Explain and justify how you would direct the actors from line 1 to line 51 in
order to highlight some of Wertenbaker’s ideas about the value of theatre in
society. [10 marks]
1 8 . 2 As a performer, explain and justify how you would perform the role of Ross in
this extract in order to emphasise his opposition to the play and his hostility
towards Ralph. [10 marks]
1 8 . 3 As a designer, outline your ideas for setting and props to be used for this
extract. Explain and justify how these would be appropriate for the action at this
point in the play. [10 marks]
Question 18 Wertenbaker: Our Country’s Good 2020
Answer all parts of this question in reference to the extract printed in the enclosed
Insert. You must make specific reference to the social, cultural and/or historical
context of Our Country’s Good in your answers and ensure that your interpretative
ideas are appropriate to the play as a whole. The extract is taken from Act Two,
Scene Eleven.
, 1 8 . 1 Explain how you would direct the actors from line 5 to line 35 in order to
demonstrate how the convicts have developed into integrated members of Ralph’s
‘tiny colony’. [10 marks]
1 8 . 2 As a performer, explain and justify how you would perform the role of Dabby
from line 36 to line 75 in order to achieve your preferred audience response. [10
marks]
1 8 . 3 As a designer, explain and justify your ideas for costume and accessories for
two of the following characters at this point in the play: • The Aborigine • Mary •
Wisehammer. [10 marks]
Question 18 Wertenbaker: Our Country’s Good 2021
Answer all parts of this question in reference to the extract printed in the enclosed
Insert. You must make specific reference to the social, cultural and/or historical
context of Our Country’s Good in your answers and ensure that your interpretative
ideas are appropriate to the play as a whole. The extract is taken from Act Two,
Scene Five: The Second Rehearsal.
1 8 . 1 Explain and justify how you would direct the actors from line 1 to line 40 in
order to achieve your preferred effects for the audience. [10 marks]
1 8 . 2 As a performer, explain and justify how you would perform the role of Ross in
order to reveal his attitudes either towards Ralph or towards the convicts. [10
marks]
1 8 . 3 As a designer, explain and justify how your designs for set and lighting would
be appropriate to the action at this point in the play. [10 marks]
Question 18 Wertenbaker: Our Country’s Good ACT TWO SCENE ONE
18.1. 1 8 . 1 Explain and justify how you would direct the performers from line 33 to
line 83 in order to highlight each of the characters’ feelings. [10 marks]
1 8 . 2 As a performer, explain and justify how you would perform the role of Liz in
her monologue in order to reveal your interpretation of the character. [10 marks]
1 8 . 3 As a designer, outline your ideas for lighting and/or sound for this extract.
Explain and justify how these would to help create an appropriate mood and
atmosphere at this point in the play. [10 marks]
ACT ONE: QUESTIONS Answer all parts of this question. You must make specific
reference to the social, cultural and/or historical context of Our Country’s Good in
your answers and ensure that your interpretive ideas are appropriate to the play as
a whole.
Good’ Questions
Question 18 Wertenbaker: Our Country’s Good 2018 Extract from Act One, Scene
Eleven of Wertenbaker
Answer all parts of this question in reference to the extract printed in the enclosed
insert. You must make specific reference to the social, cultural and/or historical
context of Our Country’s Good in your answers and ensure that your interpretative
ideas are appropriate to the play as a whole.
1 8 . 1 Explain and justify how you would direct the performers from line 72 to line
123 in order to highlight the fear that the convicts feel towards Major Ross. [10
marks]
1 8 . 2 As a performer, explain and justify how you would perform the role of Ralph
in his exchanges with Liz and Duckling, in order to show his softening attitudes
towards the convict women at this point in the play. [10 marks]
1 8 . 3 As a set designer, outline your ideas for this extract. Explain and justify how
these ideas would help to create an appropriate environment for the action at this
point in the play. [10 marks]
Question 18 Wertenbaker: Our Country’s Good 2019 Act One, Scene Six
Answer all parts of this question in reference to the extract printed in the enclosed
Insert. You must make specific reference to the social, cultural and/or historical
context of Our Country’s Good in your answers and ensure that your interpretative
ideas are appropriate to the play as a whole.
1 8 . 1 Explain and justify how you would direct the actors from line 1 to line 51 in
order to highlight some of Wertenbaker’s ideas about the value of theatre in
society. [10 marks]
1 8 . 2 As a performer, explain and justify how you would perform the role of Ross in
this extract in order to emphasise his opposition to the play and his hostility
towards Ralph. [10 marks]
1 8 . 3 As a designer, outline your ideas for setting and props to be used for this
extract. Explain and justify how these would be appropriate for the action at this
point in the play. [10 marks]
Question 18 Wertenbaker: Our Country’s Good 2020
Answer all parts of this question in reference to the extract printed in the enclosed
Insert. You must make specific reference to the social, cultural and/or historical
context of Our Country’s Good in your answers and ensure that your interpretative
ideas are appropriate to the play as a whole. The extract is taken from Act Two,
Scene Eleven.
, 1 8 . 1 Explain how you would direct the actors from line 5 to line 35 in order to
demonstrate how the convicts have developed into integrated members of Ralph’s
‘tiny colony’. [10 marks]
1 8 . 2 As a performer, explain and justify how you would perform the role of Dabby
from line 36 to line 75 in order to achieve your preferred audience response. [10
marks]
1 8 . 3 As a designer, explain and justify your ideas for costume and accessories for
two of the following characters at this point in the play: • The Aborigine • Mary •
Wisehammer. [10 marks]
Question 18 Wertenbaker: Our Country’s Good 2021
Answer all parts of this question in reference to the extract printed in the enclosed
Insert. You must make specific reference to the social, cultural and/or historical
context of Our Country’s Good in your answers and ensure that your interpretative
ideas are appropriate to the play as a whole. The extract is taken from Act Two,
Scene Five: The Second Rehearsal.
1 8 . 1 Explain and justify how you would direct the actors from line 1 to line 40 in
order to achieve your preferred effects for the audience. [10 marks]
1 8 . 2 As a performer, explain and justify how you would perform the role of Ross in
order to reveal his attitudes either towards Ralph or towards the convicts. [10
marks]
1 8 . 3 As a designer, explain and justify how your designs for set and lighting would
be appropriate to the action at this point in the play. [10 marks]
Question 18 Wertenbaker: Our Country’s Good ACT TWO SCENE ONE
18.1. 1 8 . 1 Explain and justify how you would direct the performers from line 33 to
line 83 in order to highlight each of the characters’ feelings. [10 marks]
1 8 . 2 As a performer, explain and justify how you would perform the role of Liz in
her monologue in order to reveal your interpretation of the character. [10 marks]
1 8 . 3 As a designer, outline your ideas for lighting and/or sound for this extract.
Explain and justify how these would to help create an appropriate mood and
atmosphere at this point in the play. [10 marks]
ACT ONE: QUESTIONS Answer all parts of this question. You must make specific
reference to the social, cultural and/or historical context of Our Country’s Good in
your answers and ensure that your interpretive ideas are appropriate to the play as
a whole.
