Adult Education Centre
From Text to Theatre & Film
Spring, 2011
Wednesdays in Belfield, 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Tutor: Dr Gerard Dineen
This course will explore the worlds of theatre and film by introducing students to stage and
screen adaptations of a number of set texts. Beginning with an introductory lecture which will
demonstrate how best to read a play, watch a film and be a critical theatre-goer, this module
will include lectures and seminars on eight dramatic texts, with students being encouraged to
attend up to six stage adaptations; students will be asked to share their own reviews of the
stage productions on a weekly basis.
N.B. See note below on purchasing texts and tickets.

Week 1: 2nd February
Introduction: Course outline. How to read a play, watch a film and be a critical
theatre-goer. How to write a review.

Week 2: 9th February
Lecture and seminar on The Field by John B. Keane, to include a screening of part
of a film adaptation of the play.
Students will attend the performance of The Field in the Olympia Theatre on
Thursday 10th February.

Week 3: 16th February
Students will share their reviews of last Thursday’s stage production.
Lecture and seminar on Christopher Hampton's translation of God of Carnage by
Yasmina Reza.
Students will attend the performance of God of Carnage at the Gate Theatre on
Thursday 17th February.

Week 4: 23rd February
Students will share their reviews of last Thursday’s stage production.
Lecture and seminar on The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh.
Students will attend the performance of The Cripple of Inishmaan at the Gaiety
Theatre on Thursday 24th February at 7.30pm.

Week 5: 2nd March
Students will share their reviews of last Thursday’s stage production.
Lecture and seminar on Henry IV, Part One by William Shakespeare, to include a
screening of part of a film adaptation of the play.

Week 6: 9th March
Lecture and seminar on The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, to include a
screening of part of a film adaptation of the play.

Week 7: 16th March
Lecture and seminar on The Passing by Paul Mercier.
Students will attend the performance of The Passing at the Abbey Theatre on
Friday 18th March.

Week 8: 23rd March
Students will share their reviews of last Friday's stage production.
Lecture and seminar on The East Pier by Paul Mercier.
Students will attend the performance of The East Pier in the Abbey Theatre on
Thursday 24th March.

Week 9: 30th March
Students will share their reviews of last Thursday's stage production.
Lecture and seminar on Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams, to include a
screening of part of a film adaptation of the play.
Students will attend the performance of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in the Gate Theatre
on Friday 1st April.

Week 10: 6th April
Students will share their reviews of last Friday’s stage production.
Students will be given the option of individually or collaboratively reading or
performing extracts from any plays of their choice.
The module concludes with a review of the course.
Texts:
Students are advised to have copies of the above plays as soon as possible, apart from the two
texts by Mercier, both of which have yet to be published. If anyone has difficulties acquiring
any of the above texts I will order copies from the Campus Bookshop in Belfield at the
beginning of term.
Purchasing Tickets for Theatre Performances:
There will be six trips to the theatre during the spring term, i.e.:
•
The Field at the Olympia Theatre on Thursday 10th February.

God of Carnage at the Gate Theatre on Thursday 17th February.

The Cripple of Inishmaan at the Gaiety Theatre on Thursday 24th February

The Passing at the Abbey Theatre on Friday 18th March.

The East Pier at the Abbey Theatre on Thursday 24th March.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Gate Theatre on Friday 1st April.
Although these are the recommended dates, students are free to attend the performances
whenever they wish, either before or after the relevant lectures. Furthermore, please note that
there may be low price Saturday matinees of some of these plays and students are free to
attend these instead, if they wish. Finally, if students do not wish to attend all six
performances they may choose to go to a selection of the stage productions instead; this will
not diminish their participation in the course as they will still be free to read all the texts,
attend all the lectures and contribute to all the seminars.
Students must make their own bookings for stage productions and are advised to buy
tickets for the performances which they wish to attend as soon as possible.
The relevant phone numbers are as follows:
The Gate Theatre: 874 4045 or 874 6042
The Abbey Theatre: 878 7222
The Gaiety Theatre: 677 1717
The Olympia Theatre: 0818 719300