Out of the Wings: A Night in Translation

Omnibus Theatre, 20 May 2026, 7:00pm

Pictured: Marinella Mezzanotte reads her translation from Italian at a previous OOTW ‘Open Mic’ at Omnibus.

FREE EVENT: BOOK HERE

Join Out of the Wings (OOTW) this 20 May 2026 for a night in celebration of theatre, translation, and how plays, words and worlds can travel from one language to another. Beginning with a theatre translation ‘open mic’ session, we will then invite a panel of guests to explore the subject of producing theatre in translation in the UK today. Booking is free, and now open here.

Theatre Translation ‘Open Mic’*

We are delighted to bring back our theatre translation ‘open mic’ session for a fifth consecutive year. We invite translators and theatre-makers working on or with plays in translation to and from any language or languages to take to the floor and share an extract of their work with us, and with each other. Our previous ‘open mics’ have included contemporary queer work from Mexico, texts from the Spanish Golden Age, urgent writing from Ukraine, and flashbacks to 1990s Italy.

How Does the ‘Open Mic’ Work?

While we ask participants to book in advance at this link for the evening, there is no need to sign up for the ‘open mic’ beforehand. From 7:00pm when doors open, colleagues from OOTW will be circulating with our ‘open mic’ list; simply speak to one of them and they will sign you up. Our emcee will then call upon participants to take the floor in order of sign-up. The ‘open mic’ will then begin at 7:30. Please limit your reading to five minutes. 

Can I Come and Just Be in the Audience?

Of course! All are welcome.

*There will not be a literal mic (see the image above for an idea of the set-up).

Panel Discussion: Theatre Translation Today

After a break following the ‘open mic’ session, we are delighted to welcome a panel of guests to discuss producing theatre in translation in the UK today. Chaired by OOTW member, researcher, translator and theatre director Camila Ymay González, the panel will include producer Sabrina Zavaglio of ZAVA productions (Utoya, Arcola Theatre; Miss I-Doll, The Other Palace; Hide and Seek, Park Theatre), and further panellists to be announced.

OOTW Festival 2026

After the panel and following time for questions from the audience, we will close the evening with an announcement of the line-up for the OOTW Festival play readings, which will take place at Omnibus Theatre from July 14 to 18. 

After this announcement, we will close the formalities of the evening and gather for a drink in the Omnibus bar.

Attendance at OOTW: A Night in Translation is free of charge, but please book in advance at this link.

OOTW is active all year round, exploring and platforming theatre in translation through our monthly play-reading group, annual festival and forum, blog, ad-hoc events, and publishing projects such as these titles from Inti Press. For more information, visit our website at ootwfestival.com or sign up to our mailing list here. Our call for presenters for the OOTW Forum remains open until April 30, and booking for the Out of the Wings Festival will open in May.