Ivre de Mots: spotlight on Dutch-language theatre in France

At the end of August, theatre from Flanders and the Netherlands took centre stage at the French theatre festival Mousson d’été. The programme included two staged readings of translations from the Ivre de Mots project, a panel discussion on Flemish and Dutch theatre texts, and the launch of a step-by-step guide on how to have your play translated and performed in France. We’d love to tell you more.

In recent years, Flanders Literature, Flanders Art Institute, and Performing Arts Fund NL, have joined forces to increase the visibility of Dutch-language theatre texts in France. With support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Flemish Government and in collaboration with the French organisation Maison Antoine Vitez, a corpus of 34 translations of contemporary theatre texts from Flanders and the Netherlands was created.

These new translations were introduced to the French theatre scene through readings, meetings, and partnerships with festivals and theatre companies. Highlights include events in Avignon (Le Totem), Grenoble (Festival Regards Croisés), Hasselt (Krokusfestival), and Pont-à-Mousson (Mousson d’été).

On Friday 22 August, the project’s grand finale took place at the Mousson d’été theatre festival. The event featured staged readings of two translated theatre texts: ‘Derf!’ by Sophie Kassies (translated by Mike Sens) and ‘De papa, de mama en de nazi!’ by Bruno Mistiaen (translated by Sofiane Boussahel).

Following the readings, a panel discussion brought together the authors and translators with dramaturg Peter Anthonissen and journalist Wijbrand Schaap. Together, they explored the broader context of contemporary theatre texts in Flanders and the Netherlands, highlighting both the similarities and the differences.

The day concluded with the official presentation of the first copy of the catalogue ‘Ivre de Mots. Coup de projecteur sur les dramaturgies flamandes et néerlandaises’. This publication brings together all the translations from the project’s corpus, along with two introductory essays that explore the landscape of contemporary playwriting in Flanders and the Netherlands. The catalogue is being distributed to the French performing arts sector, offering professionals the opportunity to consult the existing translations.

As part of the project, a practical English-language guide was developed to help authors and translators navigate the process of promoting their plays or translations in France. This reference work outlines the key steps and considerations for getting a translation noticed, including reading committees, writing residencies, awards, and funding opportunities.

The guide offers an clear overview of all the key moments and players involved in the journey of a play, from translation and readings to publication or performance.