An Analysis of the Sino-British“Shakespeare Folio Translation Project” Based on the Actor-Network Theory

This research focuses on the success story of the Sino-British “Shakespeare Folio Translation Project”, an international theatre collaboration initiated by the British Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in association with Chinese theatrical institutions. The project aims to produce new Chinese translations of the First Folio and stage the plays in China. Based on the actor-network theory (ANT), the article analyses the TRANSLATION^ANT process involving various human and non-human actors in the translation project, so as to examine the influence exerted by them and the network thus built on the intricate production of the translations, by “following the actors” through interviews and fieldwork. It is hoped that the success of the “Shakespeare Folio Translation Project” can give insights into the current Chinese drama “going global” initiatives.