Stage Directions: It’s not uncommon for directors to regard the script as a starting point—allowing for changes that may be needed to make the show work in their theatre, with their actors and their audience. They might consider cutting lines, changing the gender or name of a character, resetting the play in a different locale or time period, or removing objectionable language.With Shakespeare, Molière or Ibsen, there’s no problem—their works are in the public domain. However, if the play is protected by copyright, none of those changes are allowed without prior written permission from the author or the author’s representative (usually the publisher or licensing organization). Some playwrights absolutely refuse any changes to their scripts. However, many others are at least willing to consider the possibility—if you go about it the right way.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Script Change?
Stage Directions: It’s not uncommon for directors to regard the script as a starting point—allowing for changes that may be needed to make the show work in their theatre, with their actors and their audience. They might consider cutting lines, changing the gender or name of a character, resetting the play in a different locale or time period, or removing objectionable language.With Shakespeare, Molière or Ibsen, there’s no problem—their works are in the public domain. However, if the play is protected by copyright, none of those changes are allowed without prior written permission from the author or the author’s representative (usually the publisher or licensing organization). Some playwrights absolutely refuse any changes to their scripts. However, many others are at least willing to consider the possibility—if you go about it the right way.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I have seen a lot of small changes in scrips over the years. I mostly saw them when I was younger and a children's theatre changed or deleted certain lines. Sometimes it was deleting just to make the show shorter and sometimes it was cutting out words that may not have been appropriate for younger audiences. I didn't think anything about it then, but now that I am older, I can understand that an author wouldn't want their words changed or deleted. At least not without being asked first. Changing anything could change the meaning of what the writer is trying to portray. I don't think it's worth changing things without permission since doing so could be costly for all involved.
Post a Comment