Reimagine a Classic Play in a Modern Setting

Encourage creative reinterpretation of classic works to develop understanding of context and genre.

Teaching Context:
Ideal for Year 9 to Year 11 Drama when studying Shakespeare, Greek theatre, or classic plays.

Basic AI Prompt:
Rewrite a scene from Romeo and Juliet in a modern setting.

Enhanced AI Prompt:
You are learning to adapt plays to new contexts. Ask AI to rewrite a famous scene (e.g. a Shakespearean soliloquy or a Greek chorus) in a modern setting, such as a high school, office, or reality TV show. Ask it to update the characters' dialogue, actions, and setting while preserving the original meaning. Then, ask AI to explain how changing the context affects the story’s themes, tone, and audience impact.

Spice it Up (Optional Extension):
Ask AI to create a social media post from a character’s perspective in your modern adaptation.

Lesson Implementation:
Start by reading a classic scene and discussing its historical context. Brainstorm modern equivalents of the play’s conflicts. Students work individually or in groups to ask AI to adapt the scene, experimenting with different settings and genres.

They rehearse and perform their scene, reflecting on how changing the context modernises the meaning. Conclude with a reflective discussion on why theatre remains relevant across time. This activity builds creativity, adaptability and a deeper appreciation of storytelling.

Got ideas on different ways to use this prompt? Share them with the class in the comments below!

Also, if you liked this, you'll love the thousands of subject-specific AI prompts in our books section!