audience unable to connect with classic plays
Modern theatre audiences struggle to engage with classic plays. The answer is to adapt classic plays to fit with the times. Discuss.
In today 's smartphone infested fast-paced hectic lifestyle it is hard to imagine a day without all of your problems being solved with a quick type on your favourite search engine. This is a stark contrast to the issues that were seen by our favourite classical playwrights. If you were to tell them that you could find the answer to any question off the top of your head by looking at a screen they would think you insane or perhaps intoxicated. This disconnect is why some directors believe today 's modern theatre-goers find it hard to connect with classic plays and feel that the only way to rectify this is by updating these classics in order for them to speak to the audience of today. According to the Oxford Dictionary a classic is defined, in this instance a play, as something that is judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and seen as outstanding of its kind.
Shakespeare is the most common playwright to use when discussing updating classic works. Mostly due to the popularity of his works, William Shakespeare 's plays seem to be in constant circulation within theatrical communities. All of his work could be said to have been updated at some point, although it could be argued that his work contains many challenges, not only to audiences but also to the directors of the production e.g. the duration of Hamlet being between three and four hours etc., therefore the solution is to make alteration to suit both audience and director. A blatant example of this is the acclaimed 2007 stage adaptation of Hamlet starring David Tennant and directed by Gregory Doran. The most jarring alteration of this production was the change of setting from 1500 's Denmark to modern times with modern costumes, reducing wardrobe expense, with the striking contrast between the obsolete dialogues.
Whereas the simple altering of the
In today 's smartphone infested fast-paced hectic lifestyle it is hard to imagine a day without all of your problems being solved with a quick type on your favourite search engine. This is a stark contrast to the issues that were seen by our favourite classical playwrights. If you were to tell them that you could find the answer to any question off the top of your head by looking at a screen they would think you insane or perhaps intoxicated. This disconnect is why some directors believe today 's modern theatre-goers find it hard to connect with classic plays and feel that the only way to rectify this is by updating these classics in order for them to speak to the audience of today. According to the Oxford Dictionary a classic is defined, in this instance a play, as something that is judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and seen as outstanding of its kind.
Shakespeare is the most common playwright to use when discussing updating classic works. Mostly due to the popularity of his works, William Shakespeare 's plays seem to be in constant circulation within theatrical communities. All of his work could be said to have been updated at some point, although it could be argued that his work contains many challenges, not only to audiences but also to the directors of the production e.g. the duration of Hamlet being between three and four hours etc., therefore the solution is to make alteration to suit both audience and director. A blatant example of this is the acclaimed 2007 stage adaptation of Hamlet starring David Tennant and directed by Gregory Doran. The most jarring alteration of this production was the change of setting from 1500 's Denmark to modern times with modern costumes, reducing wardrobe expense, with the striking contrast between the obsolete dialogues.
Whereas the simple altering of the
References: Abrams, Josh & Parker-Starbuck, Jennifer. (2005). London Calling. PAJ: A Journal of Performance & Art., [Online]. Vol. 27 Issue 81, p38-44. Available at: http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?vid=22&sid=e2e566d9-08b9-4edd-874f-85538cd0df06%40sessionmgr4005&hid=4101&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=ibh&AN=18258388 [Accessed 07 October 2014]. Billington, Michael. (2013). Is it OK to rewrite classic plays?. Available: http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/jul/02/is-it-ok-rewrite-classic-plays. [Accessed 13th Oct 2014]. Breu ,Marcus Liam . (2005). “Greek theatre challenges modern audiences?. Available: https://www.fictionpress.com/s/2064281/1/Greek-theatre-challenges-modern-audiences. [Accessed 1st Oct 2014]. Sherwood Rena. (2013). This Classic Play Presents many Challenged to Modern Directors. Available: http://www.humanities360.com/index.php/this-classic-play-presents-many-challenged-to-modern-directors-1740/. [Accessed 5th Oct 2014]. Thorpe ,Vanessa. (2013). Jonathan Miller attacks West End trend of 'dumping ' classic plays in a new era. Available: http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/feb/02/jonathan-miller-stop-updating-classics. [Accessed 5th Oct 2014].