A New Version of “Much Ado About Nothing” By a World Famous Translator Will Premiere in Portland

Commissioned by Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ranjit Bolt translated, rather than interpreted, "Much Ado About Nothing" into contemporary English.

Portland Shakespeare Project's "Pericles Wet" (David Kinder)
By Shannon Gormley

Next week, a new Shakespeare translation by a world-famous translator is getting its premiere in Portland.

As part of its ongoing series to rewrite all of Shakespeare's plays, Oregon Shakespeare Festival commissioned British playwright Ranjit Bolt to translate Much Ado About Nothing. Shakespeare's works are frequently given modern updates, but OSF's commissions require the playwright to translate, rather than interpret, the Bard's scripts word for word.

It's an immense task, and Bolt is uniquely qualified. He's translated dozen of classic plays into contemporary English, and was awarded the Order of the British Empire—a civil honor only a few steps below knighthood—for his service to literature.

Portland Shakespeare Project will perform a staged reading of Bolt's new Much Ado for free at Artists Repertory Theatre on Sunday, May 6.

Related: Portland Shakespeare Project's "Pericles Wet" Is A Beguiling Revision of One of Shakespeare's Weirdest Plays

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.