Missing Dan Nolan by Mark Wheeller (paperback)

An acclaimed verbatim play based on the disappearance of 14-year-old Dan Nolan
— and an approved set text for OCR GCSE Drama.

Widely used in secondary school Drama, Missing Dan Nolan gives students a powerful introduction to verbatim theatre, documentary techniques and ensemble performance.

Ideal for:

• OCR GCSE Drama study
• GCSE, BTEC and A-Level performance work
• Exploring verbatim and documentary theatre
• Devising from real-life testimony
• Ensemble performance and multi-roling

Available as paperback, eBook, DVD and teaching bundle.

About the play

On 1 January 2002, fourteen-year-old Dan Nolan disappeared after a night out fishing with his friends.

Using only the words of Dan’s family, friends and the Detective Superintendent who led the police investigation, Mark Wheeller’s Missing Dan Nolan pieces together the events surrounding his disappearance.

The play explores friendship, responsibility, personal safety and the impact of tragedy on a family and community. Its documentary structure and authentic voices also make it a particularly valuable text for exploring the ethics and techniques of verbatim theatre.

Why study or perform Missing Dan Nolan?

• Approved OCR GCSE Drama set text
• Clear introduction to verbatim and documentary theatre
• Flexible casting for up to 18 performers, or four performers with doubling
• Strong opportunities for ensemble work, narration, duologues, chorus and physicalisation
• Minimal, multi-location set
• Suitable for classroom study, examination work and school performance
• Supported by additional teacher and performance resources

Exploring the text

The play provides opportunities to investigate:

Verbatim theatre
How real testimony can be shaped into performance while retaining the voices of the people involved.

Performance style
Naturalistic dialogue sits alongside narration, monologues, duologues and chorus work.

Physicalisation and music
The script offers opportunities to use movement and music to support atmosphere and emotion.

Design
A minimal set allows performers and designers to create multiple locations economically.

This revised edition

The 2020 edition includes:

• a new foreword by Mark Wheeller reflecting on the original production
• a new interview with members of the original cast
• a note on the original lighting design by Danny Sturrock

Suitable for: Key Stage 3/4, GCSE, BTEC, A-Level and adult performers
Duration: approximately 60 minutes
Cast: up to 18 performers, or 2 female and 2 male performers with doubling

Additional Learning Resources for Teachers:

• OCR CSE (9-1) Missing Dan Nolan Teacher Guide DRAMA – free download
• DVD – Two productions of Missing Dan Nolan (one large cast, one small cast) and interview with playwright Mark Wheeller – £19.99
• YouTube – insight from playwright Mark Wheeller about Missing Dan Nolan
• Drama & Theatre Missing Dan Nolan  Teacher’s Guide

Reviews:

‘Heart-rending, bold, direct and simple. Even on the bare page this is a powerful piece of drama… campaigning theatre at its most powerful.’
Paul Fowler, GoDA 2003

‘This play is not just about Dan Nolan, it’s about all of us and our responsibility
to and for each other.’
David Dykes, Head of Creative and Performing Arts, King Edward VI School, Southampton (Dan’s former school)

2016 production of Missing Dan Nolan directed by Tim Ford.