Iris Klosi; Bálint Szele: Adapting Shakespeare: Tirana University English Language Students Bridging Classic Themes with Contemporary Perspectives in The Taming of the Shrew and 10 Things I Hate About You

Article

DOI 10.51313/Freeside-2024-04

This paper examines the adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew into a 50-minute play version of 10 Things I Hate About You, performed by Tirana University English Language students at the National Experimental Theatre. Under the guidance of Associate Professor Iris Klosi, these third-year students from the British Studies course co-wrote, co-edited, and brought to life this modern adaptation, adding distinctive elements absent from the original film version. These included the introduction of an on-stage narrator, who provided context and commentary, and new dialogues that referenced contemporary perspectives on Shakespeare’s work, such as a humorous exchange where a character critiques Shakespearean language.

This paper analyses how these creative modifications in dialogue, structure, and performance style allowed the students to make the play more accessible and relatable to a modern audience while still preserving the central themes of Shakespeare’s original work. The adaptation is also evaluated in terms of its educational impact, demonstrating how the project enhanced the students’ linguistic abilities, deepened their understanding of Shakespearean drama, and fostered their creative expression. By examining the students´ approach to modernization—through changes in vernacular, costume, set design, lighting, and music—this paper underscores the value of adapting classical literature to contemporary settings. Furthermore, this paper looks ahead to future collaborations, where Hungarian universities, where English is taught, are expected to replicate Tirana University’s approach, thereby extending the educational and creative benefits of this initiative to a broader international context.