The intertwined world of literature and theatre

Illustrations by Grace McKenna

Writing a literature and theatre column, it was inevitable that I would eventually write an article where these worlds collided. In fact, it’s almost impossible to discuss one without discussing the other. Literature and theatre have been interacting and inspiring each other for hundreds of years, exchanging stories, characters, and motifs. Their entanglement stretches all the way back to the 16^th century, with perhaps the most famous playwright, who hardly needs an introduction: Shakespeare.

In a time where a large number of the population was illiterate, going to see a play was one of the only ways to engage with the literary world. To be engrossed in a story or invested in your favourite character meant standing among the ‘groundlings,’ or sitting in the balcony levels if you could afford it. The theatre was the first space in which literature truly became alive. 

Skipping forward a few centuries – breezing past the development of the novel, the widespread increase in literacy, and the evolution of theatre – we arrive at the present day. In this era, it is easy to see the inherent intertwining of literature and theatre. Many of the most popular current theatre productions are based on books, such as Les Misérables, Oliver, The Phantom of the Opera, or Cabaret. The list is truly endless. A number of these shows have become such cultural phenomena in their own right that their literary origins have become overshadowed. It is not common knowledge that Cabaret is inspired by Christopher Isherwood’s book Goodbye to Berlin. Similarly, not many people find it necessary to have read Les Misérables before going to see the stage show (but this may be more to do with the book’s monstrously intimidating size). 

However, there are some shows – particularly newer ones – that have not yet become so culturally entrenched as to separate themselves from their literary origins. The Hunger Games: On Stage remains widely thought of as a theatrical adaptation of Suzanne Collin’s book. As is the case with Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief – a show where the majority of the audience have probably read the book prior to attending. 

Does this relationship ever go the other way? I personally can’t think of any theatre shows that have been later turned into a book, and Google was having a hard time thinking of any too. Theatre allows stories to come alive, and repackaging stories on the page after they originate on the stage doesn’t seem to work. 

Literature is the creation of plots, motifs, metaphors, and characters, weaving a rich and inspiring web of ideas. Theatre shows that draw from novels are the visualisation of these stories. This does not mean that literature is a less developed form, or a stepping stone on the path to the stage, just that its ideas lend themselves well to stage adaptations, and attempting the reverse seems like trying to build a house from the roof down. 

From Shakespeare to the present day, literature and theatre have been in constant conversation with each other, creating an interwoven artistic history. Ideas diffuse between the two modes until the boundaries become blurred and every theatre show seems to have literary origins. So next time you go to the theatre, investigate the inspiration for the show – I would bet there is a literary source.