[Candrama] Theatricality - Antitheatricality, University of Bielsko-Biala, Poland, 20th - 22nd November.

[Paul Fryer]

*1st International Academic Conference***

*Theatricality – Antitheatricality:**Transdisciplinary and Scenological 
Studies on Contemporary Theatre* ​**

*20th - 22nd November 2019, University of Bielsko-Biała, Poland.***

The topic of the conference*Theatricality– 
Antitheatricality:**Transdisciplinary and Scenological Studies on 
Contemporary Theatre*leads us directly to a fundamental question: What 
is theatre? Finding an answer to this question is obviously not an easy 
task. However, the very act of posing a question does not require an 
immediate answer, let alone an explicit one. As a natural consequence of 
exploring this subject, there appear undoubtedly other queries and 
possible responses. That is why, instead of asking questions concerning 
the essence of theatre, we will try to enter the ground which in itself 
is more and more fluid and changeable. Possibly, as a result of our 
investigation, the foundations of what we call theatre will be 
undermined. Even in the eyes of those who incline towards its 
contemporary definitions. It is not also about reaching a final decision 
whether theatre should be pioneering or not. Theatre does not strive for 
stability which would let it avoid the blurring of its boundaries. The 
one and only thing that seems to be evident here is that this 
metaphysics, which aims at defining theatre, does not pass any more 
because of an objective to consecrate its own activity. In other words, 
theatre is no longer obliged to call itself theatre and makes with its 
structures whatever it wants. These displacements, sometimes temporary 
and sometimes permanent, lead us to another issue underlying the proper 
definition of theatre, namely theatricality. Furthermore, there would 
not be theatricality if it did not have its counterpoint, which is 
antitheatricality. Our conference is intended to investigate and discuss 
this “ubiquity” considering that theatre is all around us (even though 
not everything that we perceive in our surroundings is theatre). In that 
sphere, notions evolve regardless of their antecedents. Originally, 
theatre formed a monolithic unit of expression. Currently, the 
boundaries, theatricality, as well as this very field which were 
previously announced the “everlasting theatre” - monolithic like Greek 
theatre or the theatre by Shakespeare, Beckett, Strindberg, Chekhov, 
among others, or in its own scenic field: Stanisławski, Grotowski, 
Brecht, Brook or Strehler, reveal a very dynamic space for creation and 
research on the basis of which new stage representations are produced. 
In modernity, the space of theatre and research constituted 
theatricality, but it was even earlier when this space allowed for 
finding other areas of stage creations extending to antitheatricality. 
For this reason, we would like to foster an international 
cross-disciplinary exchange of pertinent ideas and observations which 
accompany us today. We would like to invite all scholars, critics, 
actors, directors, theoreticians and playwrights to contribute and share 
their reflections on the topic which include, but are not limited to, 
the following perspectives: dramatics, acting, direction, stage space, 
theatre criticism, theatre culture, classical theatre, theatre studies 
(e.g. Latin American, Asian, European, African), etc. The only binding 
guidelines are the two notions which should form the core of 
reflections: Theatricality and Antitheatricality.

Seminars, Discussion panels, Open debates, Presentation of authors’ 
monographs and journals (we invite theatre publishers and individual 
authors to present their publications).

_Plenary speakers___

Prof. Paul Fryer (Director, Stanislavsky Research Centre, University of 
Leeds, U.K)

Dr Lucas Margarit (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Witold Mazurkiewicz (Dyrektor Teatr Polski – Bielsko-Biała, Poland) / 
For confirmation

Janusz Opryński (Regisseur / Teatru Provisorium) / For confirmation

_Special events_

Pau Freixa (University of Barcelona) and Dorota Masłowska - a meeting 
between a translator and an author

Conference working languages: English, Spanish, Polish.

Conference fee: *140 EURO / 600 PLN*. The fee includes a banquet, coffee 
breaks, and conference materials. A selection of papers will be 
published by a prestigious publishing house.

For questions about this event please contact : 
iconf.theatre.antitheatre at gmail.com 
<mailto:iconf.theatre.antitheatre at gmail.com>

-- 
Prof. Paul Fryer PhD, FRSA, FHEA.
Visiting Professor, School of Performance and Creative Industies, University of Leeds.
Visiting Professor, School of Arts and Creative Industries, London South Bank University.
Hon. Visiting Professor, School of Arts and Digital Industries, University of East London.
Director, The Stanislavsky Research Centre.
Editor-in-Chief, Stanislavski Studies (Taylor & Francis).

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://artsservices.uwaterloo.ca/pipermail/candrama/attachments/20190829/5d5847c8/attachment.html>