The Show Must Go On! Transmodal Translation of Arab Theatre on the European Stages

The majority of Arab playwrights in Europe write in Arabic and typically collaborate with Arab actors; however, their audiences often lack the necessary linguistic skills. Surtitles effectively address linguistic disparities, but they necessitate cognitive multitasking, as viewers must simultaneously read the text and observe the stage action. Contemporary theatre practitioners increasingly employ three-dimensional spatiality, embodied performativity, and the multisensory aspects of live performance to reconceptualise dramatic texts and their translation into multimodal expressions. This article examines transmodal translation in Arab theatre on European stages, focus ing on Arabic-language performances presented in the summer of 2025 at international festivals and within the post-migrant theatrical circuit. Employing a multimodal analytical framework and an insider perspective, I argue that effective surtitling necessitates continuous experimentation and a flexible, context-sensitive approach that emphasises not only language but also various semiotic forms of meaning-making. This study highlights the transient and dynamic nature of surtitles, positioning surtitling as a unique form of “writing in space”, which is interwoven with the complex interplay of visual, aural, physical, and spatial codes that characterise contemporary theatrical performance.