Celebrity Translation in British Theatre: Relevance and Reception, Voice and Visibility

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This book explores the impact that high-profile and well-known translators have on audience reception of translated theatre. Using Relevance Theory as a framework, the book demonstrates how prior knowledge of a celebrity translators contextual background can affect the spectators cognitive state and influence their interpretation of the play. Three canonical plays adapted for the British stage are analysed: Mark Ravenhills translation of Life of Galileo by Bertolt Brecht, Roger McGoughs translation of Tartuffe by Molire and Simon Stephens translation of A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen. Drawing on interviews, audience feedback, reviews, blogs and social media posts, Stock examines the extent to which audiences infer the celebrity translators own voice from their translations. In doing so, he adds new perspectives to the long-standing debate on the visibility of the translator in both the process of translating and the reception of the translation. Celebrity Translation in British Theatre offers an original approach to theatre translation that sheds light on the culture of celebrity and its capacity to attract new audiences to plays in translation.

Reviews

Analysing real texts and responses by audiences, Stock uses Relevance Theory to examine how the celebrity translators voice and attitudes interact with those of the original playwright and argues clearly and cogently that the collaborative nature of celebrity translation should be better understood. * Jean Boase-Beier, Professor Emerita of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing, University of East Anglia, UK *
Robert Stocks new book represents an invaluable contribution to translation, literary criticism, and relevance theory. Accessible, erudite, and deeply informed by theatrical practice and theory, Celebrity Translation in British Theatre delights and informs in equal measure, and its insightful, provocative analysis will furnish the basis for significant advance in a range of allied disciplines. * Anne Furlong, Associate Professor of English, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada *
Translation practitioners and theorists alike have tended to be suspicious of celebrity theatre translation for its perceived role in undermining the status of both ordinary and literal translators. Celebrity Translation in British Theatre will push us to re-examine our thinking on this topic, showing how celebrity theatre translators can positively influence an audiences encounter with a translated play. Stock innovatively marries insights from stylistics and relevance theory with his professional experience as a market researcher in this thoroughly contemporary and welcome contribution to Translation Studies research. * Chantal Wright, Reader in Translation as a Literary Practice, University of Warwick, UK *

Author Bio

Robert Stock obtained a PhD from the University of Warwick, UK, following a 30-year career in commercial market research. He is now an author and independent scholar in translation studies.