Open Forum

Are you looking for a cut version, or an adaptation? Do you want to retain the original dialogue or go for something more contemporary?

I have always found that, if time allows, the best experience for my students comes from working together to cut the script based on some creative decisions. Here's the process that we've used: 

Have the students read the whole play, on their own, in class, or with a combination of the two. Once that's finished, have the students write or discuss the story of the play, in part to make sure that they understood it, in part to discover what they found to be important. Then,begin a discussion about what they think the play is really about. The objective is to come up with a short, specific concept- two or three sentences at the most- not about the story but about what they want to focus on. This becomes your basis for cutting the script. As you and the class/cast work through the text, discuss whether a scene, a section, a monologue supports the concept. If so, it stays, in whole or in part. If not, it goes. Once you've gotten through the whole play, have the students read it aloud, maybe with someone from outside the class present, like another teacher or another class. This is to make sure that what you've got is coherent enough for an audience. Cast it, start rehearsing, and be willing to make changes as you go along. 

We've gone through this for The Tempest (twice), Macbeth, The Winter's Tale, and Twelfth Night. The process seems cumbersome, but the results, both in short term and long term, are tremendous. The kids have real ownership of the production. It takes the focus off of line memorization and puts it on storytelling. And students emerge with an excellent understanding of Shakespeare's language and storytelling structure. You also have a truly original piece of theatre.