As explained in the Theatre Timesarticle, TinT realized that creating our own database of productions (potentially also staged readings, and publications) of plays in translation would be beyond our means, and not a worthwhile effort given the development of the New Play Exchange. But this site does offer the following list of productions, designed to provide a sense of the quantity and variety of productions of translated plays in the US.
For now this list - which starts in 2024 and works backwards - is restricted to professional productions, though our plan is to eventually also include those at universities and colleges. It also focuses on the US rather than Canada or the UK. And it covers plays written in the last fifty years or so. Playwrights whose most recent work premiered in the 1970s (such as Ionesco or Havel) are included, whereas others from earlier decades (like Mrozek and Frisch) are not.
For productions in the UK, see this list compiled by William Gregory.
We will keep adding entries to this list; please send information on additional productions (following the format you'll see below, and if possible including a link to more details) to me at neilblackadder@yahoo.com. NB.
This list is now also available as a searchable spreadsheet, including information about the original language, here.
Tino Caspanello, Pictures from a Revolution, trans. from Italian by Haun Saussy Upstream Theater, St. Louis, Jan.-Feb.2025, dir. Philip Boehm
Rebekka Kricheldorf, Rosa and Blanca, trans. from German by Neil Blackadder Cherry Arts, Ithaca NY, November 2024, dir. Sam Buggeln
Eugène Ionesco, Rhinoceros, trans. from French by Derek Prouse Theatre Y, Chicago, Oct.-Nov. 2024, dir. Melissa Lorraine
José Watanabe, Antígona, trans. from Spanish (Peru) by Cristina Pérez Díaz The Asylum Theatre, Las Vegas, Jun 2024, dir. Sarah O’Connell
Olivier Garofalo, Don’t Wait for the Marlboro Man, trans. from German (Luxembourg) by Philip Boehm Upstream Theater, St. Louis, April 2024, dir. Philip Boehm
Pier Lorenzo Pisano, Carbon, trans. from Italian by Carlotta Brentan Cherry Arts, Ithaca NY, April 2024, dir. Sam Buggeln
Sasha Denisova, My Mama and the Full-Scale Invasion, trans. from Ukrainian by Misha Kachman Wilma Theater, Philadelphia, Jan.-Feb. 2024, dir. Yury Urnov
Romina Paula, The Whole of Time, trans. from Spanish (Argentina) by Jean Graham-Jones Torn Page, New York, Oct.-Nov. 2022 and Dec. 2023 – Feb. 2024, dir. Tony Torn
Héctor Levy-Daniel, Bitter Fruit, trans. from Spanish by Philip Boehm Upstream Theater, St. Louis, Oct. 2023, dir. Philip Boehm
Wajdi Mouawad, Scorched, trans. from French (Lebanon/Canada) by Linda Gaboriau Expats Theatre, Washington DC, Sep.-Oct. 2023, dir. Karin Rosnizeck
Marius von Mayenburg, The Ugly One, trans. from German by Maja Zade Trap Door Theatre, Chicago, Sep.-Oct. 2023, dir. Michael Mejia
Gabriela Yepes, The Therapist, trans. from Spanish (Peru) by Gigi Guizado The Asylum Theatre, Las Vegas, Jun. 2023, dir. Sarah O'Connell
Dorota Masłowska, Bowie in Warsaw, trans. from Polish by Soren Gauger Trap Door Theatre, Chicago, May-July 2023, dir. Paweł Świątek
Matéi Visniec, The Body of a Woman as a Battlefield, trans. from Romanian by Alison Sinclair Expats Theatre, Washington DC, March-April 2023, dir. Karin Rosnizeck
Matéi Visniec, Joan and the Fire, trans. from Romanian by Jeremy Lawrence Trap Door Theatre, Chicago, March-April 2023, dir. Nicole Wiesner
Eva Doumbia & Armand Gauz, Autophagies, trans. from French by Amelia Parenteau Ashé Cultural Arts Center, New Orleans, March 2023, dir. Eva Doumbia & The Invisible Dog Art Center, Brooklyn, NY, Feb. 2023, dir. Eva Doumbia
Snežana Gnjidić, Einstein’s Wife, trans. from Serbian by Milena Trobociz-Garfield Expats Theatre, Washington DC, March 2020 and Sep.-Oct. 2022, dir. Karin Rosnizeck
Rafael Guizado, Complemento, trans. from Spanish (Colombia) by Gigi Guizado The Asylum Theatre, Las Vegas, Sep. 2022, dir. Sarah O'Connell
Ebru Nihan Celkan, Will You Come With Me, trans. from Turkish by Kate Ferguson Play Company, New York, NY May - June 2022, dir. Keenan Tyler Oliphant
Heiner Müller, Medea Material, trans. from German by Sarah Tolan-Mee Trap Door Theatre, Chicago, May-July 2022 & Oct. 2024, dir. Max Truax
Freek Mariën, The Wetsuitman, trans. from Flemish by David McKayp Cherry Arts, Ithaca, NY, March-April 2022, dir. Sam Buggeln
Daniel Kehlmann, Chistmas Eve, trans. from German by Christopher Hampton Expats Theatre, Washington DC, March-April 2022, dir. Karin Rosnizeck
Eugene Ionesco, Rhinoceros, trans. from French by Frank Labovitz Pointless Theatre, Washington, DC, March 2022, dir. Frank Labovitz
Claudio Tolcachir, Third Wing, trans. from Spanish (Argentina) by Jean Graham-Jones La Micro / Chain Theatre, New York, 2022, dir. José Ignacio Vivero.
Iva Brdar, And What Happens if I Don’t, trans. from Serbian by Ana Brdar Cherry Arts, Ithaca, NY, Dec. 2021, dir. Susannah Berryman
Laura Ruohonen, Queen C, trans. from Finnish by David Hackston Trap Door Theatre, Chicago, Oct.-Dec. 2021, dir. Michael Mejia
Martina Kiska, Pankrać 45, trans. from Czech by Barbara Day Expats Theatre, Washington DC, Oct.-Nov. 2021, dir. Melissa Robinson and Karin Rosnizeck
Rafael Guizado, Scherzo (Dialogue with a Statue), trans. from Spanish (Colombia) by Gigi Guizado Asylum Theatre, Las Vegas, June 2021
Gabrielle Chapdelaine, A Day, trans. from Quebec French by Josephine George Cherry Arts, Ithaca, NY, Nov. 2020, dir. Sam Buggeln
Jorgelina Cerritos, On the Other Side of the Sea, trans. from Salvadoran Spanish by Margaret Stanton and Anna Donko Cherry Arts, Ithaca, NY, Feb.-March 2020, dir. Sam Buggeln
David Paquet, Wildfire, trans. from Quebec French by Leanna Brodie Upstream Theater, St. Louis, Jan.-Feb. 2020, dir. Philip Boehm
Dani Horowitz, Last Tree in Jerusalem, trans. from Hebrew by Yoni Oppenheim, and A Page of Talmud, trans. from Hebrew by Yael S. Feldman and Michael Posnick 24/6: A Jewish Theatre Company, New York, Dec. 2019, dir. Yoni Oppenheim
Julya Rabinowich, Surfacing, trans. from German (Austria) by Karin Rosnizeck Expats Theatre, Washington DC, Sep. 2019, dir. Karin Rosnizeck
David Paquet, The Shoe, trans. from Quebec French by Leanna Brodie Cherry Arts, Ithaca NY, Sep. 2019, dir. Sam Buggeln
Eugene Ionesco, Killing Game, trans. from French by students at DePaul supervised by Clara Orban Red Orchid Theatre, Chicago, May-June 2019
Peter Handke, Self-Accusation, trans. from German (Austria) by Michael Roloff Theatre Y, Chicago, IL, March-April 2019, dir. Melissa Lorraine and Héctor Álvarez
Rebekka Kricheldorf, Testosterone, trans. from German by Neil Blackadder Cherry Arts, Ithaca, NY, Feb. 2019, dir. Sam Buggeln
Lukas Bärfuss, Malaga, trans. from German (Switzerland) by Neil Blackadder Theatre Y, Chicago, Nov.-Dec. 2018, dir. Héctor Alvarez and Melissa Lorraine Albert Ostermaier, Infected, trans. from German by Philip Boehm Upstream Theater, St. Louis, 2018, dir. Patrick Siler
Stefano Massini, Intractable Woman, trans. from Italian by Paula Wing Play Company, New York, NY, Sept. - Oct. 2018, dir. Lee Sunday Evans
Frédéric Sonntag, George Kaplan, trans. from French by Sam Buggeln Cherry Arts, Ithaca, NY, Sep. 2018, dir. Sam Buggeln
Toshiki Okada, Time’s Journey Through a Room, trans. from Japanese by Aya Ogawa Play Company, New York, NY, May - June 2018, dir. Dan Rothenberg
Andràs Visky, Stories of the Body, trans. from Romanian by Jozefina Komporaly Theatre Y, Chicago IL, 2018, dir. Melissa Lorraine
Aleksander Fredro, Sweet Revenge, trans. from Polish and adapted by Philip Boehm Upstream Theater, St. Louis, 2017, dir. Philip Boehm
Santiago Loza, Winter Animals / Nothing to Do with Love, trans. from Spanish (Argentina) by Sam Buggeln, Ariel Gurevitch, & Alejandro Tantanian Cherry Arts, Ithaca, NY, 2017, dir. Sam Buggeln and Norm Johnson
Guillermo Calderón, Villa, trans. from Spanish (Chile) by William Gregory Play Company, NY, 2017, dir. Guillermo Calderón
François Archambault, You Will Remember Me, trans. from Quebec French by Bobby Theodore Hudson Stage Company, Armonk, NY, 2016, dir. Dan Foster
Bárbara Colio, Ropes, trans. from Spanish (Mexico) by Maria Alexandria Beech Two River Theater, Red Bank, NJ, 2016, dir. Lisa Rothe
Lot Vekemans, Poison, trans. from Dutch by Rina Vergano Origin Theatre, New York, NY, 2016, dir. Erwin Maas
Rafael Spregelburd, Spam, trans. from Spanish (Argentina) by Jean Graham-Jones Cherry Arts at Jack, Brooklyn, NY, 2016, dir. Sam Buggeln
Jonas Hassen Khemiri, The Hundred We Are, trans. from Swedish by Frank Perry Origin Theatre, New York, NY, 2016, dir. Erwin Maas
Ger Thijs, The Kiss, trans. from Dutch by Paul Evans Upstream Theater, St. Louis, 2015, dir. by Kenn McLaughlin
Marius von Mayenburg, Martyr, trans. from German by Maja Zade Steep Theatre, Chicago, April-May 2015, dir. Joanie Schulz
Peter Handke, The Beautiful Days of Aranjuez, trans. from German (Austria) by Michael Roloff Theatre Y, Chicago, IL, 2015, dir. Zeljko Djukic
Evelyne de la Chenelière, Bashir Lazhar, trans. from Quebec French by Morwyn Brebner Upstream Theater, St. Louis, 2015, dir. by Philip Boehm
Ewald Palmetshofer, hamlet is dead. no gravity, trans. from German (Austria) by Neil Blackadder Red Tape Theatre, Chicago, 2014, dir. Seth Bockley
Toshiki Okada, The Sonic Life of a Giant Tortoise, trans. from Japanese by Aya Ogawa Play Company at Jack, Brooklyn, NY, 2014, dir. Dan Rothenberg
Jonas Hassen Khemiri, I Call My Brothers, trans. from Swedish by Rachel Wilson-Broyles Play Company, New York, NY, Jan. - Feb. 2014, dir. Erica Schmidt
Nick Rongjun Yu, Behind the Lie, trans. from Chinese by Claire Conceison Grex Group Theatre, Los Angeles, 2013, dir. Robert Woods
Roland Schimmelpfennig, The Golden Dragon, trans. from German by David Tushingham Play Company, New York, NY, May - June 2013, dir. Ed Sylvanus Iskandar
Gigliola Fantoni, Working on a Special Day, trans. from Italian by Danya Taymor, Ana Graham and Antonio Vega Play Company, New York, NY, Jan. - Feb. 2013, dir. Ana Graham and Antonia Vega
Jon Fosse, Dream of Autumn, trans. from Norwegian by Sarah Cameron Sunde Quantum Theatre, Pittsburgh, 2013, dir. Sarah Cameron Sunde
Aleksei Aburzov, My Poor Marat, trans. from Russian by Oleg Ivanov Voyage Theater Company, New York, NY, 2013, dir. Wayne Maugans
Andràs Visky, Porn, trans.from Romanian by Ailisha O’Sullivan Theatre Y, Chicago, IL, 2012, dir. Eva Patko
Jon Fosse, A Summer Day, trans. from Norwegian by Sarah Cameron Sunde Rattlestick Playwrights Theater at The Cherry Lane Theatre, NY, 2012, dir. Sarah Cameron Sunde
Jaime Salom, La Callas & Medea, trans. from Spanish (Spain) by G. J. Racz Thalia Spanish Theatre, NY, 2012, dir. Angel Gil Orrios
Marius von Mayenburg, The Ugly One, trans. from German by Maja Zade Play Company, New York, NY, Feb. 2012, dir. Daniel Aukin
Lucía Laragione, Cooking with Elisa, trans. from Spanish (Argentina) by Philip Boehm Upstream Theater, St. Louis, 2011, dir. Bonnie Taylor
Jonas Hassen Khemiri, Invasion, trans. from Swedish by Rachel Wilson-Broyles Play Company, New York, NY, Sept. - Oct. 2011, dir. Erica Schmidt
Andràs Visky, I Killed My Mother, trans. from Romanian by Ailisha O’Sullivan Theatre Y, Chicago, IL, 2010, dir. Karin Coonrod
Koffi Kwahulé, Bintou, trans. from French (Ivory Coast) by Chantal Bilodeau Movement Theatre Company, NY, 2010, dir. David Mendizábal
Andràs Visky, Juliet, trans. from Romanian by David Robert Evans Theatre Y, Chicago, IL, 2010, dir. Karin Coonrod
Toshiki Okada, Enjoy, trans. from Japanese by Aya Ogawa Play Company, New York, NY, March - April 2010, dir. Dan Rothenberg
Ingmar Villqist, Helver’s Night, trans. from Polish by Philip Boehm Upstream Theater, St. Louis, 2009, dir. Philip Boehm
Jon Fosse, Sakala, trans. Sarah Cameron-Sunde Oslo Elsewhere at 45 Bleecker, NY, 2008, dir. Sarah Cameron-Sunde
Przemyslaw Wojcieszek, Made in Poland, trans. from Polish by Alissa Valles Play Company, New York, NY, 2008, dir. Jackson Gay
Ulises Rodríguez Febles, The Concert, trans. from Spanish (Cuba) by William Gregory Upstream Theater, St Louis, MO, 2008, dir. Philip Boehm
Yukiko Motaya, Vengeance Can Wait, trans. from Japanese by Andy Bragen and Kyoko Yoshida PS122, NY, 2008, dir. Jose Zayas
Lukas Bärfuss, The Sexual Neuroses of Our Parents, trans. from German (Switzerland) by Neil Blackadder Electric Pear Productions, NY, 2008, dir. Kristjan Thor & Luna Playhouse, Glendale, CA, 2009, dir. Aramazd Stepanian & Theatre Vertigo, Portland, OR, 2015, dir. Bobby Bermea
Yoji Sakate, The Attic, trans. from Japanese by Leon Ingulsrud and Keiko Tsuneda Play Company, New York, NY, Feb. - March 2007, dir. Ari Edelson
Andràs Visky, Juliet: A dialogue about Love, trans. from Romanian by David Robert Evans Theatre Y, Chicago, IL, and touring, 2006-2010, dir. Christopher Markle
Nicoleta Esinencu, Bogdan Georgescu, Vera Ion, Ioana Moldovan, Cristian Panaite, Romania. Kiss Me!, trans. from Romanian by Roberta Levitow, Saviana Stanescu, and Cornelia Talmazan Play Company, New York, NY, 2006, dir. Marcy Arlin, Thomas Caruso, Jackson Gay, Kaipo Schwab, and Liesl Tommy
Jon Fosse, deathvariations, trans. from Norwegian by Sarah Cameron Sunde Oslo Elsewhere at 59E59 Theaters, NY, 2006, dir. Sarah Cameron Sunde
Lydia Scheuermann-Hodak, Marija’s Pictures, trans. from Croatian by Nina H. Antoljak Upstream Theater, St. Louis, Oct. 2006, dir. Philip Boehm
Sabina Berman, Heresy, trans. from Spanish (Mexico) by Adam Versenyi Immigrants Theatre Project at HERE Arts Center, New York, NY, 2006, dir. Marcy Arlin
Matei Visniec, Progress, trans. from Romanian by Joyce Nettles Immigrants Theatre Project at HERE Arts Center, New York, NY, 2006, dir. Marcy Arlin
Roland Schimmelpfennig, Arabian Night, trans. from German by David Tushingham Play Company, New York, NY, 2006, dir. Trip Cullman
Nelson Rodrigues, The Asphalt Kiss, trans. from Brazilian Portuguese by Alex Ladd 59E59 Theaters, NY, 2005, dir. Sarah Cameron Sunde
The Presnyakov Brothers, Terrorism, trans. from Russian by Sasha Dugdale Play Company, New York, NY, 2005, dir. Will Frears
Carole Fréchette, Helen’s Necklace, trans. from Quebec French by Tom Murrell Upstream Theater, St. Louis, Sept-Oct. 2005, dir. Philip Boehm
Vijay Tendulkar, Sakharam Binder, trans. Kumud Mehta and Shanta Gokhale Play Company, New York, NY, 2004. dir. Maria Mileaf
Jon Fosse, Night Sings Its Songs, trans. from Norwegian by Sarah Cameron Sunde Oslo Elsewhere at 45 Bleecker, NY, 2004, dir. Sarah Cameron Sunde
Alberto Pedro, Faith, Hope & Charity, trans. from Spanish (Cuba) by Caridad Svich INTAR Hispanic American Arts Center, NY, 2003, dir. Max Ferra