What makes Shakespeare international? Why are artists from non-western or Anglo cultures compelled to adapt his stories? Why are his plays done across the world in different languages? If one does not understand the words, how does one know if it’s any good?
Having worked in translation (as a translator and translation dramaturge), I am aware of the difficulties in transposing ideas from one culture to another, and with a playwright who’s words are seemingly so important how we judge his plays this is doubly difficult. Polish director Tadeuz Bredecki, when I was at the Shaw Festival, explained to me that all Polish adaptations were twice as long due to the Polish language not having double meaning for words. He then went on to say that his directing always went back to Shakespeare. I have heard this same feeling uttered by German, French and Quebecois directors.
One of the joys of attending East 15 was discussing this question with classmates from across the world, from Iran to Greece to Romania to China. Although there are many Shakespeare translations ranging from pour (in one country because it was written by a king who can’t be corrected!) to fantastic. Is this because of western culture cultural dominance or is it something more?
The common consensus is the main appeal is the depth or breadth of the emotion and human experience expressed in the plays. But if you can read the words how do you know it’s there? The answer seems to lie in the circumstances. The situations Shakespeare creates for his characters resonate beyond western culture just as they resonate beyond time for us. Additionally the rhythms appear to also come through. Wither this is spoken in English to a non-English ear or read in English by those unfamiliar with Shakespeare, the iambic heartbeat and changing breaking rhythms have a visceral effect that is deeper than language.
In conclusion it appears as if the circumstances and rhythms used to express them are the clue to the non-Anglo ear to Shakespeare’s profundity. These are recognizable and the words are then an added bonus.