Dramatic Arts Grade 12 Exam Guidelines Scope 2026: To achieve excellence in Dramatic Arts Grade 12 for the 2026 academic year, learners must demonstrate a sophisticated synthesis of performance craft and theoretical analysis. While the official 2026 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination timetable is pending, these Exam Guidelines provide the definitive roadmap for your revision and rehearsal.
Dramatic Arts is a unique subject where the Performance Examination and the Written Examination carry significant weight. Success requires you to inhabit a character on stage while simultaneously being able to critically deconstruct theatrical movements and texts on paper.
Download Dramatic Arts Grade 12 Exam Guidelines (PDF)
Access the official documents to ensure your performance choices and theoretical study are 100% aligned with the 2026 requirements:
- Download Dramatic Arts Grade 12 Exam Guidelines 2025-2026 (English)
- Download Dramatic Arts Grade 12 Exam Guidelines 2025-2026 (Afrikaans)
For more support, including monologue suggestions and “Mind the Gap” study guides for your prescribed plays, visit the My Courses homepage or explore our Grade 12 Study Resources hub.
1. Performance Examination (Practical)
The practical exam is an external assessment where you showcase your technical skill and creative interpretation. You must present three varied items that demonstrate range across different theatrical periods and styles.
Performance Options:
- Theme Programme: A curated selection of items linked by a central idea.
- Audition Programme: A professional-style showcase of your best individual pieces.
- Technical Theatre: A portfolio-based assessment for those specializing in design, directing, or filmmaking.
The Three-Item Requirement:
Your programme must include a variety of genres and movements. Use the table below to check your variety:
| Genre/Movement | Potential Style | Example Play/Text |
| Greek Theatre | Choral Verse / Monologue | Antigone |
| Elizabethan | Shakespearean Soliloquy | Hamlet or Macbeth |
| Realism | Modern Monologue | A Doll’s House |
| Epic Theatre | Narrated Prose / Song | Mother Courage |
| South African | Physical Theatre / Protest | Woza Albert! |
| Absurdism | Monologue | Waiting for Godot |
2. Written Examination (Paper 1)
Duration: 3 Hours | Total Marks: 150
The written paper tests your ability to apply dramatic theory to both your prescribed texts and unseen performance scenarios.
Core Sections of the Written Paper:
- Section A: 20th Century Theatre Movements (±30 Marks) – Focuses on movements like Realism, Epic Theatre, or Theatre of the Absurd.
- Section B: South African Theatre (±60 Marks) – Analysis of prescribed SA plays, focusing on socio-political context, staging, and characterization.
- Section C: The Playtext and Performance (±30 Marks) – Critical evaluation of how a script is realized on stage.
- Section D: The History of Theatre & Concepts (±30 Marks) – Understanding the evolution of drama and the application of technical elements (lighting, set, costume).
Key Focus Areas for 2026
To secure a “Level 7” (80%+):
- Vocal and Physical Technique: In your practical, ensure your articulation, projection, and physical “presence” are intentional and varied for each item.
- Contextual Analysis: In the written exam, never analyze a play in a vacuum. Understand the Context of Production (when it was written) vs. the Context of Performance (how it is staged now).
- Dramatic Terminology: Use subject-specific language (e.g., proxemics, fourth wall, alienation effect, subtext) to strengthen your essay arguments.
- Annotated Scripts: Practice sketching “blocking” or lighting designs for specific scenes in your prescribed plays.
Conclusion: Strategy for 2026 Success
The Dramatic Arts Grade 12 Exam Guidelines for 2026 emphasize that theatre is a living art form. Your essays should read like the work of a director or actor, and your performances should reflect deep intellectual research.
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