The Performing Arts Centre provides grants for the translation of Icelandic plays into foreign languages. The goal of translation grants is to arouse interest, increase the visibility and demand of Icelandic plays outside Iceland. In April, the Centre's advisory board awarded translation grants to two plays, Lúna by Tyrfing Tyrfingsson translated by Brian FitzGibbon and “... and what about it” by Rúnar Guðbrandsson, Árni Pétur Guðjónsson and Sigurður Edgar Andersen translated into English by Terry Gunnel and Rúnar Guðbrandsson. Each translation receives a grant of 250 thousand kronur.
Lúna by Tyrfingur Tyrfingsson premiered at the City Theatre in January. “It's Christmas Eve and the couple Luna and Ingi are sitting at home but would prefer to be somewhere else. When there is a knock on the door, neither the spirit of Christmas has arrived, nor the Santa Claus, but the Heidar the beautician . ”
... and what about it?” is a co-creation by Rúnar Guðbrandsson, Árni Péter Guðjónsson and Sigurður Edgar Andersen. This bold and provocative work offers a rich fusion of burlesque, cabaret and dance, all related to queerness and human relationships.
This is the third time that the Performing Arts Centre of Iceland has awarded a translation grant, but previously we have funded six new translations into different languages. These grants are not only financial support but also part of our strategy to increase the visibility of Icelandic playwrights globally.