The third-year Creative Writing students at AFDA campuses in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban were recently treated to an exciting and deeply informative Online Adaptation Workshop hosted by acclaimed academic and creative practitioner, Dr Ursula Vooght. The session, which brought together students from across the country, offered a unique opportunity to explore the complexities of adapting literature for the screen.
Dr Vooght, a lecturer in the Department of Media, Language and Communication at the Durban University of Technology, brought a wealth of knowledge to the workshop. Her primary research focus is the adaptation of texts — a passion that she not only explores through scholarly work but also through her own creative projects, including graphic novels and screenplays. She is the author of the recent scholarly publication Alain Badiou meets The Great Gatsby: Rethinking fidelity in film adaptation (AOSIS, 2023).
At the heart of the workshop was a compelling case study: The Suit by renowned South African writer Can Themba. Students were required to read the iconic short story in preparation and were then challenged to reimagine how they would adapt it for the screen. The exercise encouraged them to consider how themes, tone, and character could be translated visually and cinematically, prompting dynamic discussions and creative interpretations.
Dr Vooght’s expert facilitation, drawing on both theoretical and practical approaches, gave students invaluable insights into the delicate balance between creative freedom and fidelity in adaptation. She shared her own methodologies and invited students to engage critically with the adaptation process — questioning not just how, but why stories change when they move from page to screen.
The workshop was a resounding success, sparking inspiration among students and strengthening their understanding of adaptation as both an academic and artistic discipline. With her depth of knowledge and passion for the craft, Dr Vooght left a lasting impression on the next generation of South African storytellers.