In this paper, the author aims to present a model for the analysis of the translation of foreign drama for the stage. Aaltonen demonstrates interest in the relationship between the source text and its translation, in particular when and how the translation is allowed to manipulate its source text, using the terms 'transformation', 'intersection' and 'borrowing' to describe the different types of manipulation. The paper incorporates insights from theatre semiology into the study of translated drama by applying a functional approach that was originally not used for written artefacts. That approach is founded on the assumption that drama translation is a purposeful activity that involves advance planning. The author concludes that translated drama is a vast area that provides interesting insights into the power structures of a country’s theatrical and cultural system. He also focuses on the similarities between the activities of translating drama and baking apple pies, as both demand meticulous planning.