By translating these culturally significant works, the students contribute to cross-cultural understanding and the global appreciation of Ukrainian theatre. Their efforts not only preserve the essence of the original plays but also introduce international audiences to the themes prevalent in Ukrainian children’s drama.
Iryna Steshenko Drama Translation Competition: Plays for Children is an contest in which students are invited to translate carefully selected Ukrainian children’s plays into English, designed to highlight both their linguistic prowess and cultural sensitivity while fostering international appreciation of Ukrainian dramatic literature.
Thus, it should be highlighted that the winners of this competition, Alisa Teplynska and Olesia Teplynska, have demonstrated exceptional talent in translating Anna Halas’s play Dolphin Bay from Ukrainian into English. Their translations are celebrated for their remarkable accuracy, fluency, and creative interpretation, faithfully preserving both the linguistic qualities and the thematic depth of the original text. In capturing the nuanced cultural elements and emotional resonance of the play, their work has set a new standard for excellence in drama translation. The innovative approach they employed not only makes the play accessible to an international audience but also retains the rich cultural essence of the original work. This outstanding achievement underscores the competition’s commitment to fostering high-quality, culturally resonant translations while highlighting the exceptional linguistic and interpretative skills of the winners.
In addition to the winners, several other talented students have contributed exemplary translations that highlight their linguistic prowess and creative interpretation. For instance, Alisa Teplynska and Olesia Teplynska collaborated on translating Anna Halas’s Plastic Trap, delivering a version that captures both the language and the underlying themes of the original. Similarly, the translation of Anna Halas’s Christmas in the Count’s Palace was skillfully handled in English by Olesia Rudevych and Viktoriia Kuchmynda, ensuring that the festive atmosphere and cultural subtleties were well-preserved. Furthermore, Sofia Slivinska‘s solo translation of Danko and the Escaped Dragon by Anna Halas demonstrated her adept ability to render dynamic narratives into accessible English. Lastly, the joint effort of Viktoriia Kuchmynda, Sofia Slivinska, and Olesia Rudevych on Dmytro Ternovyi’s Butterfly Wing showcased an innovative approach to translating poetic imagery and evocative storytelling, thus broadening the international appeal of Ukrainian dramatic literature.
Source: https://ukrdrama.ui.org.ua/en/news/iryna-steshenko-drama-translation-competition-plays-children