EN
This article draws attention to the issue of translating dramatic texts in the context of contemporary translation practices and to its essential role in the construction of the international cultural community. The status of the theater translator and specific linguistic or cultural problems are investigated based on the example of Polish translations of contemporary Russian playwright Yevgeni Grishkovetz’s work. The collaboration between the translator and the theatre is described as well as the factors affecting the final shape of the stage text and the difficulties involved in translating the works of the aforementioned author. An attempt is also made to examine the thin line between translation and adaptation. The analyzed material suggests that, rather than opting for the philological fidelity to the original, the translators desired to ensure the playwright’s works a “timeless” life on stage historically and artistically.