The Secret Agent - Adaptations

Adaptations

• Conrad adapted the novel as a three-act drama of the same title in 1923. After flopping in 1923, the play reportedly was not performed anywhere until January 2008, when it was staged in Italian by the Teatro Stabile di Genova of Genoa, under the direction of Marco Sciaccaluga.
• The novel formed the basis for Alfred Hitchcock's 1936 film, Sabotage, though many changes to the plot and characters were made. (Another 1936 Hitchcock film, Secret Agent, was based on short stories by W. Somerset Maugham.)
• Another film version, more faithful to the original novel, was produced in 1996, starring Bob Hoskins, Patricia Arquette and Gérard Depardieu.
• A play adaptation of the novel was produced in 2007 by Alexander Gelman, the Artistic Director of Organic Theater Company in Chicago, IL. The play's premiere took place on April 18, 2008.
• A television adaptation of The Secret Agent was made in the 1990s with David Suchet as Verloc, and Cheryl Campbell as his wife Winnie.
• The Feldkirch Festival premiered an opera based on the novel on 23 May 2006. Simon Wills wrote the music and libretto and Peter Kajlinger sang the main character, Mr.Verloc
• The Center for Contemporary Opera in New York presented the world premiere of a new opera by Michael Dellaira (music) and J D McClatchy (libretto), at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College on March 18, 2011. Amy Burton sang Winnie, Scott Bearden sang Verloc. It had its European premiere at the Armel International Opera Festival on October 14, 2011 in Szeged, Hungary. Adrienn Miksch sang Winnie, Nicolas Rigas sang Verloc. The same production was reprised on April 18, 2012 at L’Opéra-Théâtre d’Avignon in Avignon, France. All productions were directed by Sam Helfrich and conducted by Sara Jobin.