Adapting Texts, Adapting Practice

This chapter argues that literary adaptations can provide much wider opportunities for English Literature students and teachers beyond the passive position of student-as-audience. Having examined and extended the definition of rehearsal room pedagogy, I demonstrate how teachers can apply methods that are used in professional rehearsal rooms to literary adaptations, suggesting that novels and set texts such as Dickens’ Great Expectations and de Waal's My Name Is Leon can be explored in ways that support an increased level of personal and academic engagement, enhance the development of oracy, and encourage students to develop compassion and empathy. I suggest that despite common concerns that they are not equipped (either by training or inclination) with the skills to lead drama-based activities, English teachers are, in fact, equally as skilled and qualified as theatre professionals to employ rehearsal room techniques in their own classrooms.