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Adaptation and Translation

What considerations are at play when adapting and translating works for the stage? Content in this section explores work that is adapted from one form into another, or is translated between languages. A great place to start is the Translating the Future series, in which renowned translators from around the world discuss their craft.

The Latest

Gore and Myth in Theatre Mitu's (holy) BLOOD
Podcast
Gore and Myth in Theatre Mitu's (holy) BLOOD
by Tjaša Ferme, Rubén Polendo
29 February 2024
Justice for Movie Musicals, or Why the Musical Adaptation of The Color Purple Matters 
Podcast
Justice for Movie Musicals, or Why the Musical Adaptation of The Color Purple Matters 
by Jordan Ealey, Leticia Ridley
14 February 2024
Queer Dramaturgies in Turkish Theatre
Podcast
Queer Dramaturgies in Turkish Theatre
by Marina Johnson, Nabra Nelson, Erdem Avşar
24 January 2024
Gabriella Page-Fort, Samantha Schnee, and Chad W. Post
21st-Century Translation: What Has the Future Brought Us?
Video

21st-Century Translation: What Has the Future Brought Us?

with Gabriella Page-Fort, Samantha Schnee, and Chad W. Post

Tuesday 7 July 2020
United States

PEN America, the Center for the Humanities at CUNY Graduate Center, and the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library presented 21st-Century Translation: What Has the Future Brought Us? livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 7 July 2020 at 10:30 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 12:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 1:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 18:30 BST (London, UTC +1) / 19:30 CEST (Berlin, UTC +2).

Achy Obejas, Sean Gasper Bye, and Elizabeth Rose.
Queer Literature, Queer Legacies: Looking Toward the Future of LGBTQ Translation
Video

Queer Literature, Queer Legacies: Looking Toward the Future of LGBTQ Translation

With Achy Obejas and Sean Gasper Bye

Tuesday 30 June 2020
United States

PEN America, the Center for the Humanities at CUNY Graduate Center, and the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library presented Queer Literature, Queer Legacies: Looking Toward the Future of LGBTQ Translation livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 30 June 2020 at 10:30 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 12:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 1:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 18:30 BST (London, UTC +1) / 19:30 CEST (Berlin, UTC +2).

a person seated at a desk with multiple screens
At Home and in Lockdown with Belarus Free Theatre
Essay

At Home and in Lockdown with Belarus Free Theatre

The Show Goes On

30 June 2020

verity healey examines how Belarus Free Theatre is making work during COVID-19 and dives in to their latest show, A School for Fools.

Jeffrey Angles, Mónica de la Torre and Bruna Dantas Lobato.
Motherless Tongues, Multiple Belongings I
Video

Motherless Tongues, Multiple Belongings I

Moderated by Bruna Dantas Lobata, with Mónica de la Torre and Jeffrey Angles

Tuesday 23 June 2020
United States

PEN America, the Center for the Humanities at CUNY Graduate Center, and the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library presented Motherless Tongues, Multiple Belongings I livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 23 June 2020 at 10:30 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 12:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 1:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 18:30 BST (London, UTC+1) / 19:30 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

a focused portrait of an actor
Finding a Live Audience in Virtual Theatre
Essay

Finding a Live Audience in Virtual Theatre

18 June 2020

Edward Einhorn talks about adapting his play Performance for One into an online experience.

Aya Ogawa and Jeremy Tiang headshots.
Translating Plays and Playing With Translation
Video

Translating Plays and Playing With Translation

Featuring Aya Ogawa and Jeremy Tiang

Tuesday 16 June 2020
United States

PEN America, the Center for the Humanities at CUNY Graduate Center, and the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library presented Translating Plays and Playing With Translation livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 16 June 2020 at 10:30 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 12:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 1:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 18:30 BST (London, UTC+1) / 19:30 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

Andrea Sollenberg, Harrington, and Kyzer.
A Manifesto For Our Time
Video

A Manifesto For Our Time

Featuring Elizabeth Lowe, Matthew Harrington, and Larissa Kyzer

Tuesday 9 June 2020
United States

PEN America, the Center for the Humanities at CUNY Graduate Center, and the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library presented A Manifesto For Our Time livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 9 June 2020 at 10:30 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 12:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 1:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 18:30 BST (London, UTC+1) / 19:30 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

Daniel Hahn and Lawrence Schimel.
Translating for the Future: Children’s Literature in Translation
Video

Translating for the Future: Children’s Literature in Translation

Lawrence Schimel in conversation with Daniel Hahn, and moderated by Lyn Miller-Lachmann

Tuesday 2 June 2020
United States

PEN America, the Center for the Humanities at CUNY Graduate Center, and the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library presented Translating for the Future: Children’s Literature in Translation livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 2 June 2020 at 10:30 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 12:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 1:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 18:30 BST (London, UTC+1) / 19:30 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

Forrest Gander and Raquel Salas Rivera.
Global Ecopoetics: Poetry, Translation, Climate Change, and Public Health
Video

Global Ecopoetics: Poetry, Translation, Climate Change, and Public Health

Forrest Gander in conversation with Raquel Salas Rivera.

Tuesday 26 May 2020
United States

PEN America, the Center for the Humanities at CUNY Graduate Center, and the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library presented Global Ecopoetics: Poetry, Translation, Climate Change & Public Health livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 26 May 2020 at 10:30 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 12:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 1:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 18:30 BST (London, UTC+1) / 19:30 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

Madhu Kaza and Lina Mounzer.
Translating the Uncertain Present
Video

Translating the Uncertain Present

Madhu Kaza in conversation with Lina Mounzer.

Tuesday 19 May 2020
United States

PEN America, the Center for the Humanities at CUNY Graduate Center, and the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library presented Translating the Uncertain Present livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 19 May 2020 at 10:30 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 12:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 1:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 18:30 BST (London, UTC+1) / 19:30 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

Translating the Future Week 1: From 1970 to 2020: Translation Transformations
Video

Translating the Future Week 1: From 1970 to 2020: Translation Transformations

Co-sponsored by PEN America, the Center for the Humanities at CUNY Graduate Center, and the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library

Tuesday 12 May 2020
United States

PEN America, the Center for the Humanities at CUNY Graduate Center, and the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library present Translating the Future Week 1: From 1970 to 2020: Translation Transformations: David Bellos in conversation with Karen Emmerich livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 12 May 2020 at 10:30 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 12:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 1:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 18:30 BST (London, UTC+1) / 19:30 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

Aaliyah in Underland promotion.
Aaliyah in Underland (Virtual Reading)
Video

Aaliyah in Underland (Virtual Reading)

A Hip Hop remix of Alice in Wonderland that explores the concepts of structural violence, anti-blackness, memory, and self-discovery.

Friday 8 May 2020
Takoma, Washington, USA

The University of Puget Sound’s Projects in Dramaturgy: “Politics & Praxis of Rememory” class presented the virtual reading of Aaliyah in Underland by Wind Dell Woods on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 8 May 2020 at 12 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 2 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 3 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 20:00 BST (London, UTC+1) / 21:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

two actors onstage
Female Playwrights, Hispanic Comedia
Essay

Female Playwrights, Hispanic Comedia

A Jubilee Primer

16 March 2020

Barbara Fuchs and Rafael Jaime argue that beyond the English-language theatrical canon lies a rich corpus of classical work that remains remarkably hospitable to women, focusing their discussion on two playwrights: Ana Caro and Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.

two performers in red costumes with a backdrop of the moon.
"French and Yet Never French Enough" / « Français, mais jamais assez français »
Essay

"French and Yet Never French Enough" / « Français, mais jamais assez français »

Caribbean Playwrights Challenge the Monolith of French Identity / Les dramaturges caribéens disputent l’identité française monolithique

13 January 2020

Amelia Parenteau discusses the Actions Caribéennes Théâtrales festival, which brought together francophones, francophiles, and theatre folks from around the world to witness staged readings of six French Caribbean plays in English translation. / Amelia Parenteau parle du festival Actions Caribéennes Théâtrales (ACT), qui a rassemblé des francophones, francophiles et gens de théâtre de partout dans le monde pour assister aux lectures publiques de six pièces franco-caribéennes traduites en anglais.

three actors onstage, one jumping in the air.
On Bicultural Comedy
Essay

On Bicultural Comedy

An Interview with Herbert Sigüenza

5 January 2020

Matthew McMahan talks to playwright Herbert Siguenza about branching out as a solo writer after years as a member of Culture Clash, writing bilingual comedy, and more.

a face projected onto a screen on a stage
Collaboration and Profanation
Essay

Collaboration and Profanation

Reflecting on the International Collaboration behind WITKACY / Two-Headed Calf

19 December 2019

Amanda Shank, associate artistic director of California’s CalArts Center for New Performance, talks about bringing an international, cross-cultural collaboration to life with Warsaw’s STUDIO teatrgaleria.

actors onstage
“Involuntary”
Essay

“Involuntary”

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in the Age of Neurodivergence

20 November 2019

Leon J. Hilton explores the recent production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest created by Spectrum Theatre Ensemble, a company dedicated to making theatre with and for neurodiverse artists and communities.

four actors onstage
Turning Medea into a Telenovela
Essay

Turning Medea into a Telenovela

Melodrama and Luis Alfaro’s Mojada

5 September 2019

Juan Recondo looks at Luis Alfaro’s reimaging of Euripides’s Medea, in which the title character is a Mexican undocumented immigrant who arrived in New York after facing the horrors of the border.

three actors onstage
Tragedy That Heals Amid Heartbeat Laws
Essay

Tragedy That Heals Amid Heartbeat Laws

Melinda Lopez’s Yerma

31 July 2019

Shari Caplan discusses the Huntington Theatre’s production of Yerma.

two puppets
Creating a Feminist Punch and Judy Show
Essay

Creating a Feminist Punch and Judy Show

16 June 2019

Roxanna Myhrum looks at the history of the iconic puppet show Punch and Judy and Sarah Nolen’s feminist adaptation of it, Judy Save the Day.

show poster
Language and Identity in the Welsh-Turkish Play Y Brain/Kargalar
Essay

Language and Identity in the Welsh-Turkish Play Y Brain/Kargalar

12 June 2019

Emily Garside discusses Y Brain/Kargalar, in which the playwright, Turkish refugee Meltem Arikan, who settled in Wales, explores her conflicting identities.

three panelists
Shifting Sands of Russian Theatre
Essay

Shifting Sands of Russian Theatre

Reporting from Moscow’s Golden Mask Festival

8 May 2019

Howard Shalwitz, Karen Houppert, and Yury Urnov reflect on the productions they saw at this year’s Golden Mask Theatre Festival in Moscow, Russia.

A painting of a duckling on a farm with other birds looking at it
Creating Ability-Positive Theatre for Children
Essay

Creating Ability-Positive Theatre for Children

2 January 2019

Tim Collingwood talks about the importance of creating “ability-positive” theatre so that people with different ability statuses have the chance to see themselves represented on stage.

Performer looking a snow falling on stage
Orhan Pamuk’s Snow
Video

Orhan Pamuk’s Snow

Staged Reading and Conversation with Nobel Prize laureate Orhan Pamuk (Turkey)

Wednesday 24 October 2018
New York City

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented Orhan Pamuk’s Snow: Staged Reading and Conversation with Nobel Prize laureate Orhan Pamuk (Turkey) livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 24 October at 3:30 p.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 5:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 6:30 p.m. EDT (New York).

two actors onstage
Twenty-five Meditations on SITI Company’s Theater Piece No. 1
Essay

Twenty-five Meditations on SITI Company’s Theater Piece No. 1

29 July 2018

David Dudley explores the story behind John Cage’s Theater Piece No. 1 and discuses SITI Company’s recent production of it, which was conceived and directed by Anne Bogart.