This course aims at familiarising students with the multifarious nature of theatre translation. It shall engage with current research that explores theatre translation in its most innovative forms. Throughout the module, students will undertake translation exercises and participate in class discussion. They will explore different aspects of theatre translation and various translation practices, while considering the relationship between a playtext and its semiotic concretisation in performance. Students will be able to take a practical look at how playtexts are rendered into another language from the translator’s approach(es) to the source text, through to the work of directors, actors, performers, and other theatre artists who bring translations to life for new, diverse audiences.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
The course is specifically designed to enable students to:
§ gain insight into the process of theatre translation and the creative decision-making involved in rendering a playtext from one language to another
§ recognise the particularities, mechanics, and conventions of theatre translation
§ analyse a theatre text for interlingual translation purposes, identify challenges and suggest solutions
§ learn how vibrant translations are made and adopt different approaches to keep the piece alive and relevant to a modern audience
§ have the space to question key terms in theatre translation, through hands-on exercises and analysis of existing translations, and examine where the blurred line lies between translation and adaptation
§ become familiar with the many factors and codes to consider when translating a theatre text to be staged
Assessment
Continuous assessment – Final Project
