Translator on Stage

Geraldine Brodie is Lecturer in Translation Theory and Theatre Translation in the Centre for Translation Studies at University College London, UK. She founded the UCL Theatre Translation Forum and Translation in History Lecture Series, is a panel Associate of Advancing Research in Translation and Interpreting Studies (ARTIS) and is co-editor, with Emma Cole, of Adapting Translation for the Stage (forthcoming 2017).

Brodie suggests the ethical project underlying the book: to lift the lid on the behind-the-scenes machinations that influence the appointment of literal, direct, and indirect translators, and to bring to light the often hidden ‘influencers’ that intervene in the translation process. It is with its sustained analysis of the role of the literal on the mainstream London stage and its bearing on overarching questions of visibility that this book makes its major contribution, and emerging literal translators, in particular, will find much encouragement and numerous transferable ideas for their own professional practice … Brodie’s thoughtful comparative analysis … yields insights into the ways in which the literal translator can influence the stage performance crafted from their text … In her interviews with representatives of literary departments, moreover, Brodie records a high degree of understanding of the tensions inherent in the ‘two-step’ process of literal and indirect translation, together with a degree of sympathy for the literal translator … Brodie’s forensic attention to detail in tracking the influence of multiple agents in the production of theatre translations makes this a volume rich in insights, and of interest to researchers and practitioners alike … Brodie’s in-depth investigation into the function of translation in the production of staged translations in mainstream London theatres is the first step in an exciting new phase of research into the overt and covert roles of theatre translators in the production of foreign work on the local stage.

• List of FiguresList of TablesAcknowledgements1. Introduction: The Role of the Translator on the London Stage2. London Theatre: Contexts of Performance3. Eight Productions and Their Translation Teams4. Agents of Translation5. Conclusion: Translation Theory in the TheatreAppendix 1: Sample Play DataAppendix 2: ArchivesBibliographyIndex