Final answer:
The text of a play is adapted to make it suitable for different actors, time periods, languages, or locations, conforming to contemporary interpretations or physical constraints of a production.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of adapting a play involves changing the text so it can be performed by different actors, can be set in a different time period, can be translated into a different language, or can be performed in a different location.
This adaptation may be necessary to make the play relevant to modern audiences, to fit a particular director's vision, or to suit the constraints of a particular venue or ensemble.
For example, Shakespeare's works are often adapted to modern English and edited for contemporary audiences without losing the original meter of Iambic Pentameter.
The scale and technology available to the production also influence how a play is adapted for the stage, considering factors such as audibility and visibility for the audience.
Moreover, the relationship developed during rehearsals carried over to public performances, helps actors to consistently deliver a quality performance while also adapting to the live nature of theatre where no show is exactly the same.