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Translators on Theatre: In Our Own Words

Theatre in translation is a vibrant niche within the vast landscape of US theatre filled with passionate, visionary artists. Not only is theatre in translation a powerful tool for cultural diplomacy, but also a unique opportunity to encounter global artists’ voices within the comfort of one’s own local theatre. This six-part series will explore the vital importance of creating more space for translated works of theatre on US stages through a multitude of perspectives, from how to begin translating a play to why the dramatic translator belongs in the rehearsal room as a fully recognized creative collaborator. Cross-disciplinary theatre artists and scholars will share their perspectives on topics such as the gray areas between translation and adaptation, the effect of national arts funding on opportunities for international exchange, and advocacy strategies to increase works in translation on US stages. Celebrate National Translation Month by diving into this rich exchange of ideas, cultures, and creative practices in pursuit of a more interconnected, diverse, and empathetic world.

A writer stands in front of a blank chalkboard in the front of a classroom.
Essay
3 October 2024

Translator and playwright Amanda L. Andrei offers a beginner’s guide to translation for theatre, with tips on everything from securing translation rights to finding the right community to support your work.

Artists workshop at a table in a classroom.
Essay
2 October 2024

Theatrical translation demands cross-cultural collaboration. Henning Bochert traces these collaborative vectors by illuminating the scope and funding structures of a number of projects, reaching from German theatres to European Union cultural initiatives and beyond.

Artists work in an a bare studio space with chairs on the floor.
Essay
30 September 2024

A decade ago, translators dreamt of a formalized network for the promotion of theatrical translation in the United States. Neil Blackadder and Adam Versényi write about the ways this effort now feeds into a variety of development and production strategies for works in translation.

An actor performs in front of a live projection of themselves as they are being recorded.
Essay
26 September 2024

Translation lives in the slippery area between texts, people, cultures, languages, and sources. In this conversation, Jean Graham-Jones and Caridad Svich engage with expansive understandings of translation and adaptation and apply those ideas to their own myriad translation projects. 

Two actors wearing fuzzy animal costumes sit on stage.
Essay
24 September 2024

From awards shows to rehearsal rooms, the work of translation for theatre is invisibilized in the United States. Jeremy Tiang explores the reasons for this lack of recognition and makes the case not just for more translation, but for the increased presence of translators.

Four dancers dressed in white dance in front of a brightly lit white backround.
Essay
23 September 2024
Through their work, translators of theatre allow others to travel with them between languages, cultures, and realities. Amelia Parenteau kicks off the Translators on Theatre: In Our Own Words series with an essay on translation as an act of service that opens potent yet imperfect portals between worlds.

Series are collections of content curated around a specific theme. HowlRound works with curators to develop topical pieces meant to spotlight current events and happenings within the commons.

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