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Conference Interpreters UK was delighted to be contacted recently by Hampstead Theatre for advice about interpreting to be featured in the Simon Stephens play 'The Trial of Ubu'. One of our members, Huboob Al Mudhaffer, a distinguished colleague who has worked at the International Criminal Tribunal in the Hague, made the following comments: "The only thing that comes to mind about The Hague is the tension and the feeling of tremendous responsibility in how you were interpreting the proceedings. It is the only conference in my experience where interpreters worked for ten minutes only before passing the microphone to their colleague – this just shows you the fevered atmosphere of the whole thing" (in simultaneous interpreting colleagues would normally work for half hour intervals).
Rosamund Durnford-Slater and Maureen Haycock, two members of the CIUK Management Committee, went along to the Hampstead Theatre on the opening night, and our comments focus on the aspects for which we have professional expertise i.e. the portrayal of the two interpreters through whom the trial is relayed. We were extremely impressed by the performances of Kate Duchene and Nikki Amura-Bird, the first as the more experienced colleague starting off calm and professional, although reacting sharply to the fidgeting of her colleague, whose tension before taking over the mike was something we could identify with. The endless rummaging in their bags, the pens poised to jot down figures for the colleague who is being tested to breaking point by a never-ending list of names and dates, the changing relationship and moods all rang true. As the trial proceeds in fast-forward mode, the interpreters never once express their own opinion but translate the atrocities – eye witness accounts of cannibalism and other horrors – wide-eyed and deadpan. The strain and unbearable tension finally break one of the two interpreters, who is left speechless, her hands vainly searching for the elusive word.
We would like to congratulate Kate and Nikki on such a convincing performance which brings the whole play to life.
The play itself deserves a much wider review and touches on the eternal question of show trials which are of such topical interest with the increasing number of high profile prisoners being brought before the specialised tribunals.
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