The same doorway, a different entrance
Adapting a story does not always mean transferring it scene by scene. In its educational musical-theatre resource, the V&A compares The Wizard of Oz with Wicked, which shifts the focus to the witches, and The Wiz, a retelling shaped by African American characters, music and culture.
These are examples of how storytelling changes, not information about tickets or current performances. The exhibition mentioned in that resource ended in 2024; the online activity can be explored without confusing the two.
Ask who knows what
Our exercise begins with a story you know well. Pick a character who appears only briefly and write down what they know about the conflict, what they do not know and what they want. Resist giving them information only the protagonist has: that limitation may make their version interesting.
Then imagine a song at a moment of decision. You do not have to compose it to ask what would change between its beginning and end. Does the character dare to ask for something, contradict themselves or decide to stay quiet?
Compare without demanding a copy
When watching an adaptation, separate two questions: what does it retain from its source, and what does it achieve on its own terms? An omission may frustrate you; a change may reveal something you had not noticed before. Both reactions can coexist.
When sharing an opinion, describe a specific choice rather than assuming every change is a mistake. If you turn the exercise into a public work, check the rights to the source material: practising privately and publishing an adaptation are different situations.
Sources and further reading
A sample article for this editorial proposal. General information, not breaking news or personalized advice.
