Mr. Tony Meech

BA (Manchester), MA (Bristol) PGTC, LRAM

Senior Lecturer Drama

• a.j.meech@hull.ac.uk
• Telephone: +44 (0) 1482 465 815
• Fax: +44 (0) 1482 466 727
  
• Office: Gulbenkian 229

My research interests lie in German theatre, both in its history and in translating texts for performance, many of which have not been available in English before.

My research into the early development of the theatre in Germany is exemplified in my chapter: Classical Theatre and the Formation of a Civil Society in the forthcoming Cambridge History of German Theatre, while my chapter The Early Plays in the Cambridge Brecht Companion is evidence of my research into C20 theatre.

I am a founder member of the Department’s Centre for Performance Translation and Dramaturgy. My commissioned translations include: J.M.R.Lenz’s The Tutor and Botho Strauss’s Seven Doors and Time and the Room for the Gate Theatre, Lessing’s Minna von Barnhelm for Oberon and Büchner’s Leonce und Lena for Methuen, Krausser’s Leatherface and Zschokke’s Literate People for the Goethe Institute’s ‘Theaterbibliothek’ series, as well as original translations for David Hare’s version of Mother Courage at the National Theatre, and Dennis Kelly’s Rose Bernd at the Arcola Theatre.

In 2002 I translated the book, and acted as dramaturg for the National Theatre’s production of Brecht’s The Threepenny Opera , which, after touring, played at the Cottesloe Theatre.

As part of my own research into the staging of translated texts, I have recently translated and directed the world stage première of Dead , the only play by the composer Anton von Webern, as well as my versions of Stefan Kolditz’s play: Eva Hitler’s Lover and Peter Turrini’s Infanticide .

I have also translated numerous German plays from all periods (including Goethe’s Goetz von Berlichingen , Büchner’s Woyzeck , Hauptmann’s The Weavers and Wedekind’s Spring Awakening for student productions at Hull and elsewhere in the UK and abroad.

I teach study options in C18 and early C19 German Theatre, Brecht and Post-War German Theatre, and a practical option in Radio Journalism.

I am planning in summer 2007 to combine my two central teaching and research interests by making a recording of my new translation of Brecht’s radio play: The Trial of Lucullus .

I have acted as external examiner for the universities of Warwick, Manchester and East Anglia, and most recently for the University of Wales (Swansea Institute).

I am a member of the boards of the Humberside Theatre Trust and the Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough, and have been a panel member for the Gate Theatre Translation Award.