PIERS TORDAY, writer of the acclaimed Last Wild series of children's novels, has adapted Dickens' A Christmas Carol for Wilton's Music Hall. Here, he explains why his version, Christmas Carol: A Fairy Tale, reimagines the familiar story, placing Ebenezer's sister Fan at the heart of the action... When Charles Dickens published his ‘little Christmas book’ … Continue reading A female Scrooge: author Piers Torday on adapting Dickens for today’s stage
Adaptation
Steve Waters on putting Idi Amin on the stage
Playwright Steve Waters has adapted Giles Foden's acclaimed novel about Idi Amin, The Last King of Scotland, for the stage, now premiering at Sheffield Theatres. Here, he reflects on the process of adapting the novel, and reveals that it wasn't until he went to Uganda himself that he realised the true extent of Amin's legacy, … Continue reading Steve Waters on putting Idi Amin on the stage
‘One of the greatest ever collaborators’: Enda Walsh on working with David Bowie
Now playing in London following its premiere in New York last year, new musical Lazarus marks a unique collaboration between the playwright Enda Walsh and legendary singer and songwriter David Bowie – featuring many of the latter's most famous songs. Though nobody realised at the time, the production turned out to be one of Bowie's … Continue reading ‘One of the greatest ever collaborators’: Enda Walsh on working with David Bowie
‘Wonder tales’: Philip Pullman and Philip Wilson on staging the Grimm Tales
For Philip Pullman, working on a new version of the Grimm Tales was a 'dream job'. Here, he explains why they work so well on the stage, while below, theatre director Philip Wilson describes how he adapted and staged the Tales, and what to consider when staging them yourself... Philip Pullman: When Penguin Classics asked … Continue reading ‘Wonder tales’: Philip Pullman and Philip Wilson on staging the Grimm Tales
‘The pain of celebrity’: Ian Kelly on Mr Foote’s Other Leg
Ian Kelly wrote an award-winning biography of the once-notorious eighteenth-century comedian, Samuel Foote. Now he's acting in his own stage version of the story alongside Simon Russell Beale in a sold-out production directed by Richard Eyre. Here he explains why his one-legged protagonist, who rose to fame and celebrity only to be toppled in a … Continue reading ‘The pain of celebrity’: Ian Kelly on Mr Foote’s Other Leg
Geoffrey Beevers: ‘bringing Eliot alive’ – adapting Middlemarch
In addition to his highly successful career as an actor, Geoffrey Beevers is also a writer and director. He has a particular love for George Eliot's work, having adapted a number of her novels for the stage - most recently Middlemarch, which premiered at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, in 2013. Here, Geoffrey discusses why … Continue reading Geoffrey Beevers: ‘bringing Eliot alive’ – adapting Middlemarch
The Goodale Brothers: the road to Jeeves and Wooster in ‘Perfect Nonsense’
A huge success since opening in the West End last year, Jeeves & Wooster in 'Perfect Nonsense', the Goodale Brothers' ingenious play featuring P.G. Wodehouse's iconic double act, was recently named Best New Comedy at the 2014 Olivier Awards. Here, co-writer Robert Goodale explains how the idea to adapt Wodehouse's books came about, and the process by which … Continue reading The Goodale Brothers: the road to Jeeves and Wooster in ‘Perfect Nonsense’
The Prompt Book 