Adaptation Task

During the research and development phase of Ocean, Joel Horwood, Katy Rudd and the team would respond to challenges, and adjust the script and the staging. This collaborative process then continued in read throughs (often attended by Neil Gaiman) and into rehearsal. On this national tour, the process of collaboration has continued, making further adjustments for the challenges posed by performing in different venues.

Take a scene from your favourite book and write a drama script for one scene in the the story. Consider the following:

• How will you establish setting (time, place, period)?

• How many people are in the scene? Does everyone speak? Are there any characters who are not included in your adaptation? (The Boy’s mother has been removed for the stage adaptation, for example)

• Why does an audience need to see this scene? Not every scene from The Ocean at the End of the Lane is exactly the same as the novel, and some moments are not included

• Remember what you need to show vs what you need to tell. The audience doesn’t need everything explaining to them when they can see much of it on stage through design

• Is there a point where you need the audience to engage their imagination and/or suspend their disbelief? How will you encourage them to do this?

Once you have created a first draft, work in a group to stage the scene using your script. What problems do you encounter? What is or is not clear? Are there any points in the dialogue that are not necessary? Do you need to expand other moments? Have you given everyone in the scene enough to do? Remember that even those who are not speaking need to have something to react to.

After you have explored this first draft, edit it and explore it again with your working group. What has changed and what has improved?

Share your writing with a partner, or with your class.