Offensive to Some
By Berni Stapleton | Translated to French by Sonya Malaborza
New Translation Commission
Discover the leading works of Canadian theatre makers, meet the playwrights and their translators, and play a part in the new translation process.
New Translation Canada | Nouvelle Traduction Canada
Offensive to Some
By Berni Stapleton
Translated to French by Sonya Malaborza
“I write about ordinary people of Newfoundland-Labrador who harbour extraordinary stories. I write down their names. I gravitate toward one-woman/person plays that carry intimate revelations. I am fascinated by stories that have been forgotten, especially women’s stories. Playwriting is about lifting other voices.” – Berni Stapleton
“Offensive to Some” is a powerful theatrical work set primarily within a prison cell, where the protagonist reflects on her experiences of domestic abuse and the tragic consequences that led to her imprisonment for killing her abusive husband. The play addresses difficult but important themes of violence against women, survival, and empowerment through a darkly humorous yet poignant script. It shines a light on the resilience of survivors and challenges societal attitudes toward domestic abuse. The narrative spans historical and contemporary perspectives, weaving stories that reveal cycles of abuse and the strength required to break free from them.
Meet the playwright & translator
Berni Stapleton
Atlantic Canada is rich with artists and storytellers – Berni Stapleton represents and inspires the best of them. Throughout her career, she has audaciously experimented across forms, including musicals, solo performances, historical drama, and poetic collage, deeply engaging her audiences with powerful texts that are emotionally riveting, funny, challenging, and accessible. Her impact on her community and the next generation of artists is significant. The jury noted her bold and unyielding commitment to capturing the stories of women and girls from Newfoundland-Labrador and making a place for them and gender non-conformists in the canon.
Sonya Malaborza
Originally from Rexton, New Brunswick, Sonya Malaborza made a long detour to Toronto, then Moncton, before setling in Galloway, near the village where she grew up. A translator and incubator of ideas, she works as an editor at Prise de parole. L’accoucheuse de Scots Bay, her translation of Ami McKay’s best-selling novel “The Birth House”, earned her a Governor General’s Literary Award nominaƟon and the 2022 Éloizes Award. Her first book, Prendre racine, was published in the fall of 2023 by Prise de parole. Her Theatre Translation include Running Far Back by Don Hannah (Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre), Vicious Little Boyz in the Rain by Gil Garratt (Productions Nemesis), & Plan B by Michael Healey (Tarragon Theatre). www.sonyamalaborza.com
Arts Across Canada
celebrating great canadian theatre in both official languages
We gratefully acknowledge the support of
