The subject is the translation of plays from one vernacular language to another. To what extent does the power of a vernacular language to suggest a specific culture inevitably situate the play in the milieu of the translation rather than in that of the original? What are the strategies that translators can use to ensure that their version avoids adaptation and remains firmly embedded in the original setting and culture? Is there inevitably a loss of original colour in the translated work? Other topics addressed include the translation of idiomatic expressions, the use of local details, and the question of cultural differences. The author draws upon his experiences as co-translator with Bill Findlay of Quebec plays into Scots and recent co-translation with Wajdi Mouawad of the dramatization of Irvine Welsh's 'Trainspotting' for production in Montreal. [Source: BITRA]