Adaptations: Theories and Practices in Contemporary Performance

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 5
• Convenor: Seda Ilter
• Assessment: a practice-based project presentation (50%) and coursework of 3000 words (50%)

This module explores issues, theories and practices of adaptation primarily in contemporary theatre and performance in relation to other art forms such as radio, television, literature, film and new media technologies. It presents a multi-perspective view on different forms of adaptation in performance ranging from literary and intermedial adaptation to intercultural adaptation. The module seeks to enable you to engage with the key debates, theories and praxis of adaptations not only theoretically but also practically. To this end, the module structure provides both a study- and practice-based learning experience through lectures and workshops.

In weekly lectures, you will explore the definitions, key debates and theories about adaptation and will engage with different forms and topics of adaptation ranging from intercultural to intermedial adaptation. Our weekly workshops allow you to practically explore different modes of adaptation in relation to the specific theoretical aspects they cover in the lectures.

Indicative module syllabus

• Introduction: Defining Adaptation, Adapter and Audience
• Adaptation: From Text to Stage
• Literary Adaptation for Stage: From Prose to Performance
• Adaptation for Radio: Audio Drama
• Adaptation between Screen and Stage
• Guest Artist Workshop
• New Technologies and Transmedial Adaptation
• Guest Artist Workshop
• Intercultural Adaptation
• Adaptations Project Presentations

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• critically and creatively engage with different aspects and examples of adaptation mainly in theatre and performance
• demonstrate understanding of the key debates in theatre and performance studies regarding adaptation
• examine and test in practice some of the key components of adaptation
• write a short critical commentary analysing an example of an adapted work and an essay responding to a given question, and prepare a creative project adapting a short text and presenting it and its rationale.