TravCast - Sasha Dugdale & Chris Campbell - The Art of Translation

Traverse Theatre

TravCast is the Writer's Podcast from the Traverse, Scotland’s New Writing Theatre. Associate Director, Emma Callander, interviews well known playwrights and theatremakers whose work features in the year round programme at the Traverse. In this episode, Emma speaks to Chris Campbell and Sasha Dugdale about the art of translation. A translator and poet, Sasha Dugdale has translated many plays from Russian for theatres around the world, including the Royal Court Theatre, the Traverse Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and BBC Radio Drama. She also translates poetry and short stories, and her translation of the poet Elena Shvarts’ Birdsong on the Seabed (Bloodaxe) was a Poetry Book Society Recommended Translation and shortlisted for the Popescu and Rossica Prizes. Sasha translated 'Take the Rubbish Out, Sasha' by Ukrainian playwright Natalia Vorozhbyt as part of Traverse Theatre A Play, A Pie and A Pint Spring Season 2015. Chris Campbell has worked as an actor at theatres including The National, The Royal Court, The Traverse, The West Yorkshire Playhouse, The Birmingham Rep, The Gate and English Touring Theatre. Directors have included Howard Davies, Sir Richard Eyre, Sir Peter Hall, Richard Wilson, William Gaskill, Erica Whyman, Stephen Daldry, Ian Brown and Annie Castledine. He most recently appeared alongside Meryl Streep in 'The Iron Lady'. He has translated plays by Philippe Minyana, David Lescot, Rémi de Vos, Adeline Picault, Magali Mougel, Launcelot Hamelin, Frédéric Blanchette, Catherine-Anne Toupin and Fabrice Roger-Lacan for The National, The Almeida, The Donmar, The Traverse, The Birmingham Rep and The Young Vic among others. Chris was Deputy Literary Manager of the National Theatre for six years and is currently Literary Manager of the Royal Court. In 2014, Chris was appointed Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government. Chris translated 'Right Now' by Quebecois playwright and actor Catherine-Anne Toupin. Right Now is presented by the Traverse Theatre Company in May 2015. Original music by James Iremonger www.jamesiremonger.co.uk Produced by Cian O Siochain and Eleanor Pender Devised and engineered by Cian O Siochain