CALL FOR PLAYS IN TRANSLATION 2023
In association with the American Literary Translators Association (ALTA), The Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre is pleased to announce our 4th Annual Plays in Translation Contest!
Translators are invited to submit plays translated into English from another language. The translator of the winning translation will receive a small cash prize and the play will be presented as an in-person staged reading performed at The Scoundrel and Scamp Theatre in Tucson on November 11, 2023.
We are particularly interested in plays that meet the following criteria:
Plays translated from any other language into English;
We especially encourage translation of non-European plays, though plays from Europe or translated from European languages will be considered on equal footing with non-European plays.
We wish to encourage new works of translation, and to that end, submitted plays should not have received more than a staged reading or workshop production. Plays that have been fully produced in their English translation are not eligible.
Plays that can be performed with six actors or fewer;
Plays that have a runtime of 90 minutes or less (we encourage looking up the runtime of the play in its original language to gauge this);
Plays that feature content that is aligned with Scoundrel & Scamp’s mission to create “immersive and imaginative experiences for a diverse, cross-generational audience that inspire empathy and encourage discourse";
Plays that foreground language in a manner that will work well in a staged reading (i.e., that do not heavily lean on physical theatre, scenery or props, or other non-spoken elements).
Past submitters are welcome to resubmit a script that was entered into competition in previous cycle of this contest but was not selected as the winner.
Submission Information
Please submit to playscripts@literarytranslators.org by May 30, 2023:
a translation of a complete play with the original (Both short and long plays welcome, but under a 90-minute runtime strongly encouraged!)
a brief query letter including confirmation of permission to translate the piece and permission to perform the translated version of the piece as a staged reading
short bios of both author and translator
a note as to whether the translator would be available to attend the performance on Nov. 11, 2023, should their work be selected
Please send any questions regarding this Call for Plays to playscripts@literarytranslators.org
Previous Winners
2022 Winner: CHINS UP! SHOULDERS BACK!
by Ainur Karim
translated by Ellen Vayner and Slava Faybysh
2021 Winner: BEFORE THE GERMAN’S HERE
by Marta Barceló
translated by H.J. Gardner
2020 Winner: THE CRACK: AMONG WILD ANIMALS
by Gracia Morales and Juan Alberto Salvatierra
translated by L. Finch