Remaking Shakespeare focuses on the artistic and cultural legacy of the most famous dramatist of all time. Adaptations of William Shakespeare's plays tell us a great deal about the aesthetic, political, and social values of the cultures that produce them and allow us to explore the very notion of what is held to constitute 'Shakespeare'. They often critique the original texts, amplify particular aspects of the narrative, and provide an accessible portal to better understanding Shakespeare's characters, language and themes.
In Term 1, this module will introduce you to the key theoretical contributions to the study of Shakespeare in adaptation and guide you through various 'remakings' of a single Shakespeare play. We will explore these elements through a single play in adaptation across stage, screen and literature. The 2025-26 text will be Henry IV Part 1, and we will explore such adaptations as My Own Private Idaho, The Hollow Crown and Thor.
Term 2 invites students to curate a nine-week syllabus that follows the afterlives of one to two plays. The texts will be selected via a democratic process in which the class collectively agrees on which plays to study. Students will then lead two-hour seminars in groups on an adaptation of that play that interests them. Previously selected plays have included Hamlet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Taming of the Shrew and Coriolanus.
This module is taught by two-hour seminars, combining a short introductory mini-lecture with an "open-space" teaching style, which involves group discussions and "on your feet" practical exploration. Seminars during Term 1 will involve the exploration and analysis of archival resources and key adaptations through practical exploration as well as discussion; you will be encouraged to share and develop your own strategies for such work during Term 2.