Tess Durbeyfield seems destined for a simple life. The daughter of simple people, in a simple town, she knows her place and is content. That is until her life changes when her drunken father discovers he is a member of an ancient aristocratic family, the d'Urbervilles. After an accident where the family's horse is killed, Tess's mother sends her to seek help from their wealthy 'relations', but will the acquaintance be a help, or send Tess and her family into further trouble and ruin?

How do I choose a play to perform with my students that meets the curriculum requirements and also interests my class? What can I introduce my students to that they might not already know? If you're asking these questions, this is the book for you! Written specifically for drama teachers, this is a quick, easy-to-use guide to finding and staging the best performance material for the whole range of student abilities and requirements for 15 - 18-year-olds. It suggests 200 plays suitable for students of all abilities and requirements, providing sound advice on selection and realisation, and opening up plays and playwrights you may have never known existed. Structured in 2 parts, Part 1 consists of 8 easy-to-read chapters, explaining how to get the most out of the resource. Part 2 is a vast resource listing 200 plays suitable for study/performance at GCSE and A Level. The details of each play are set out in an easy-to-navigate chart that offers introductory information on: Play Playwright Casting numbers Gender splits Ability Genre description Brief Summary Exam level Workshop ideas Warnings/advice (where necessary) Suggested scenes for study Performance notes including lighting, sound, costume and space