Selecting a Source for Stage Adaptation
What to Look For in an Original Text
Inspiration comes in all shapes and forms. Maybe you just saw an amazing short film, or you read a very poignant novel or short story. In experiencing this text, you could not help but think of what a great stage play it would make, what an impact would be created by developing the story with live actors in a theatre.
But how do you know if a text is compatible with a theatre setting? Which texts will transfer well into plays? As a general rule, you need to side with practicality. The following considerations are necessary when you are interested in writing an adaptation for the theatre.
Character Numbers
More often than not, theatre companies cannot invest in shows that have more than five actors (and even five is sometimes pushing it), so character numbers are important. Keeping your characters down to two or three people is ideal. If your original text has numerous characters, think about the following:
- Do all of the characters contribute significantly to the furthering of the plot? If not, you may want to cut them from your adaptation. And if they only serve to deliver one or two important pieces of information, you can always give that knowledge to another character to share with the audience.
- Can any of your characters be double cast? If there are characters in your original text who only show up once or twice, you may be able to keep them in your adaptation and have one actor portray two or more people. This is an efficient (and often fun) way to keep your cast small. Remember, double casting can also spark intrigue and discussion from your audience – in stage adaptations of Peter Pan, the actor who plays Mr. Darling is almost always double cast as Captain Hook.
Setting
When it comes to setting, practicality once again plays a major role. While you may be able to travel to eighteen different countries in an experimental piece of theatre, it can be very difficult to create many settings on a single stage. In addition to confusing set changes during blackouts, a large variety of settings will also rack up a large budget for the theatre company. Your best bet is to choose a story that takes place in one or two different locales at most. The easier a play can be staged, the more likely it is to be picked up by many companies.
Of course, it is also important to remember that as the adaptor, you do have the power to change what needs to be changed, as long as you remain true to the heart of your original text. If you can plausibly adapt the text from taking place in a number of different countries or settings to occurring in a single room, then go for it. It’s your very own version of poetic license, so to speak.
Choosing a Text for Stage Adaptation
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