Supporting the translation of new work for the stage is a core part of Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal’s (PWM) programming. Since its inception in 2013, the Cole Foundation Mentorship for Emerging Translators has been guiding the next generation of French to English theatre translators.
With the skilled guidance of acclaimed translator Maureen Labonté and in partnership with the Cole Foundation, PWM has built a program that mentors emerging translators through every stage of their process in writing a new translation of a play. The successful applicant to this year’s program will receive a $1,500 honorarium and a mentorship with Maureen Labonté, which includes a workshop with actors and a reading. The mentorship begins in October 2023, and lasts for approximately one year.
PWM is committed to creating an environment where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. We are continuously working to make all of our programs accessible and inclusive. While recognizing that the identity of each person is fundamentally plural and multidimensional, we strongly encourage applications from artists who are: Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit), Black, POC, racialized (including recent immigrants), 2SLGBTQQIPAA+, neurodivergent, disabled, living with chronic illness and/or chronic pain. PWM is strongly committed to supporting a wide range of cultural identities and lived experiences, therefore we encourage applicants to self-identify in their application if they are comfortable doing so.
If you have any questions regarding the Cole Foundation Mentorship for Emerging Translators, please contact heather@playwrights.ca.
If you have any questions regarding accessibility, require assistance with your application, or would like to discuss alternative methods of applying and deadline flexibility, please contact accessibility@playwrights.ca.
Click here to preview the application form as a PDF.
For accessibility information and video tours of our location, please click here. If you require any accommodations to participate in the program should you be selected, please let us know in your application.
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible, emerging translators must have completed at least one translation which has received a public reading, publication or production. Because the focus is on developing translators, the applicant must not have done more than three play translations.
With What Play(s)?
Before applying for the Mentorship, emerging translators must choose the play they wish to translate and contact the playwright for permission: Establishing a connection to the play and the playwright in advance means that the applicant is already invested in the proposed work and would be in a position to begin work immediately following the announcement of the selected project in October.
Translations must be from French into English only.
Full-length scripts, one-acts or theatre for young audiences are all welcome. Please note, our experience does not extend to the translation of musicals.
Application Process
Fill out this Google Form by August 18, 2023. You will be asked to provide the following information:
- Your name, pronouns (optional) and contact information
- A one-page letter of intent describing the project, its challenges, your reasons for wanting to translate the work, and how you hope to grow in your practice through the mentorship. PDF documents, video or audio responses are accepted. If submitting a video or audio response, please answer in one video/recording, maximum 5 minutes.
- Your biography (maximum 250 words);
- A copy of your chosen play;
- Written permission from the original playwright of the play;
- A 3 to 5 page sample of your previous translation work, please include the corresponding original text.
A selection committee will be reading the applications and selecting the participant for the mentorship.
All applicants will be notified of the results by the end of September.
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