CCEA A-Level Performing Arts A2 2 The Production Company: a complete overview of the synoptic final unit

A2 2 The Production Company is the final unit of CCEA A-Level Performing Arts and the synoptic climax of the course. You form a production company and, in response to a commission brief, research, plan, promote and realise a performing arts event for an audience, capturing the process in a record of work. Like every unit it has no exam. This overview maps the aim, the stages and how to evidence them.

The aim of the unit

A2 2 prizes AO3 (planning, developing and realising work as a company) and AO4 (evaluation), informed by AO2 research. As the synoptic unit, it asks you to integrate everything the course has taught, personal skill, event management, teamwork and industry awareness, all directed at meeting a real brief as a professional company would.

The stages of the unit

The unit follows a professional production cycle, framed throughout by the brief.

1. Interpret the brief. Agree the company's response and define the event's purpose and audience.
2. Research and plan. Research the brief's context and feasibility, allocate company roles, and build a schedule, budget and promotion plan.
3. Promote and realise. Produce the promotional materials, deliver the event for the commissioned audience, and manage problems on the day.
4. Record and evaluate. Compile the record of work and judge the event against the brief with evidence.

The record of work

The record of work is the unit's central evidence.

• A research report - the investigation that informed the plan (AO2).
• Promotional materials - posters, programmes, social media or press.
• Evidence of tasks completed - schedules, roles, budgets, minutes and contingency plans (AO3).
• An evaluation against the brief - a reflective judgement with evidence (AO4).

How to reach the top band

The marks reward a company that meets the commission and judges itself against it.

1. Keep the brief central. Record how each decision answers the commission.
2. Allocate clear roles. Evidence your own contribution distinctly within the company.
3. Target the promotion. Aim the promotional materials at the commissioned audience.
4. Evaluate against the brief. Judge success by the commission, with client or audience evidence.
5. Draw on the whole course. Bring the craft, management and industry skills of the earlier units together.

The unit, dot point by dot point

This unit's full overview, with worked questions and cross-links, sits alongside the cross-unit skills pages. Browse the full set at /ccea-a-level/performing-arts/syllabus.

For the official specification

CCEA publishes the full specification and support materials at ccea.org.uk. Always work from the current CCEA specification and your centre's controlled-assessment guidance, because requirements are board-specific.