In the same week that the ADC is staging two translations of Chekhov’s plays, The Mays 2013 has announced that this year’s guest editors will include the translator of Three Sisters: Michael Frayn.

An alumnus of Emmanuel College, where he read Philosophy, Frayn went on to write for The Guardian and The Observer, establishing a reputation as a satirist and comic writer. At the same time, he was developing his talents as dramatist and novelist. One of his best-known original plays, Noises Off, will be staged at the Cambridge Arts Theatre in April 2013. Frayn is now a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and is in the unusual position of being equally successful in writing novels and plays, as well as publishing prolifically as a non-fiction writer and a translator.

In this sense, he is a fitting choice for this year’s Mays anthology. The theme for 2013 is ‘play’ – with an emphasis on genre-bending, unexpected, collaborative and ultimately playful work. Mays co-editor, Hugo Havranek, commented on the appointment: “Needless to say, we are very pleased to have Mr. Frayn as guest editor. His wide-ranging success and interests across literary genres fit perfectly into our aims this year for the anthology. And as an alumnus whose work is often performed in Cambridge, his presence and involvement with the Mays should be inspiring to new writers.”

The appointments for the remaining guest editors are to be announced in the near future. Submissions are now open for The Mays 2013, and the deadline is the 2ndof March – more information and guidelines are available on the Mays Facebook page: www.facebook.com/themays2013.