Click here to explore thousands of examiner marked IA, EE and TOK exemplars!
The IB Theatre Production Proposal is a major internal assessment in the IB Theatre course. Understanding the assessment criteria and using a focused preparation checklist can help students create a well-structured proposal. This post outlines the IB Theatre Production Proposal criteria and provides a practical checklist aligned with the official rubric in the IB Theatre subject guide.
IB Theatre Production Proposal Criteria and Checklist
The Production Proposal is marked out of 20 marks and is internally assessed. It is weighted at 30% for SL and 20% for HL. Students submit:
One production proposal (maximum 12 pages of written text and images, not exceeding 4000 words)
One list of all sources used
It allows students at both SL and HL to develop and communicate a clear artistic vision for the design and theoretical staging of an entire published play text they have not previously studied. Rather than staging the play, students act as both director and designer to explain how performance and production elements would be used to fulfil their intentions for a live audience. The proposal must be written in the first person and communicate a clear, feasible vision for staging the entire play text for a live audience.
Criterion A: Ideas and intentions – 8 marks
This criterion assesses how effectively the student explains the key ideas presented in the chosen play text and how clearly they articulate their own intentions for staging the entire play. Students are expected to engage directly with the text, identifying central concepts, meanings, issues or themes that shape their interpretation. These ideas must then be used to inform a purposeful staging vision. Strong proposals clearly explain what the student wants an audience to experience and understand, how the student interprets the play as a theatre-maker, and how performance style and performance space support that interpretation.
For a maximum of 8 points:
Clearly explain the key ideas embedded in the entire play text.
Support explanations with specific examples from the play.
Develop and explain personal theatre-maker (director and designer) intentions for staging the whole play.
Identify and justify the intended performance style and space.
Ensure that ideas and intentions are clearly connected and mutually supportive.
Criterion B: The proposed design – 4 marks
This criterion focuses on how effectively the student presents and explains their overarching visual and technical design concept for the production. Students must communicate the overall look and feel of the staging, and show how production elements would be used to fulfil their stated designer or director intentions. Strong proposals include clear visuals such as design sketches, images, diagrams or collages, and provide concise explanations of how lighting, sound, costume and other production elements support the intended meaning and emotional impact of the play.
For a maximum of 4 points:
Present clear visual production design ideas.
Explain how selected production elements, such as lighting, sound, costumes, etc, support the stated intentions.
Show how the overall design creates a coherent aesthetic for the entire play.
Use appropriate theatre and design terminology.
Ensure that visuals are clearly labelled and directly linked to explanations.
Criterion C: The proposed staging of one moment of the play – 8 marks
This criterion assesses how effectively the student proposes and explains the staging of one specific moment from the play text. The chosen moment must be significant and allow the student to demonstrate how both performance and production elements would be used to create tension, emotion, atmosphere and/or meaning (TEAM). Students must clearly explain how performers would use body, voice and movement and how design elements such as lighting, sound, set and costume would contribute to the intended impact on the audience. The proposal should demonstrate how this moment of the play reinforces the overall vision of the production proposal.
For a maximum of 8 points:
Identify one specific and appropriate moment from the play.
Explain how production and performance elements would create TEAM in that moment.
Clearly connect staging choices to the stated director and designer intentions.
Justify all major performance and design decisions.
Fully justify any exclusion of either performance or production elements.
We hope you found this post helpful in learning more about the IB Theatre Production Proposal. For more useful materials associated with the IB, check out the wide variety of IA, EE and TOK exemplars available at Clastify and other guides available on our blog.
The Fast Track To Your
Best IB Coursework & College Essays
All content on this website has been developed independently from and is not endorsed by the International Baccalaureate Organization. International Baccalaureate and IB are registered trademarks owned by the International Baccalaureate Organization.