Missing Dan Nolan

New revised 2020 version

Set text for OCR GCSE 9-1 Drama exam

Missing Dan Nolan is Mark Wheeller’s acclaimed Verbatim drama, drawn entirely from the words of those who knew 14-year-old Dan Nolan, who went missing after a night out with friends. This powerful, multi-voiced play captures the raw truth of real events, piecing together testimonies from family, friends and the community.

Combining social realism with documentary theatre techniques, Missing Dan Nolan is a compelling exploration of grief, resilience and the questions that remain when answers are lost. Popular with GCSE and A-Level Drama students, the play is also performed widely by youth, community and professional theatre companies.

Comparable to works such as The Laramie Project, London Road, and Too Much Punch for Judy, Missing Dan Nolan is a gripping, human story that invites discussion about personal safety, responsibility and the ethics of telling true stories on stage. With flexible ensemble casting and authentic dialogue, it is ideal for GCSE and A-Level Drama alongside plays like Be My Baby and Kes. 

This play tells the tragic true story of Dan Nolan, a teenage boy who went missing on the 1st January 2002 after a night out fishing with his best friends. The play explores the mystery of Dan’s disappearance and the tragic events that occurred that night; raising issues concerning personal safety and the importance of looking out for each other.

This revised 2020 edition of the play includes a new foreword reflecting on the original production by Mark Wheeller, a new interview with the original cast and a new note on the original lighting design by Danny Sturrock.

Suitable for: Key Stage 3/4, GCSE, BTEC, A-Level to adult
Duration: 60 minutes approximately

Cast: Up to 18, or 2 female, 2 male with doubling.


"Heart-rending, bold, direct and simple. Even on the bare page this is a powerful piece of drama...” 

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)