AUSTRALIAN CONFERENCE 99

[Gordon Beattie]

THE AUSTRALASIAN DRAMA STUDIES ASSOCIATION

presents

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

a conference exploring the links between theatre
  scholarship and professional theatre practice

Monday   5   -   Friday   9 JULY   1999

 to be held at QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Academy of the Arts (Drama)
QUT Kelvin Grove Campus
Victoria Park Rd
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA

Phone:  61 7 3864 3234
Fax:  61 7 3864 3975

*   *   *

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS celebrates the diversity of contemporary professional
theatre practice, as well as the connections between tertiary drama studies
and the theatre industry.  It aims to illuminate diverse modes of
performance and a variety of artistic orientations.  In this conference,
drama and theatre studies specialists will explore questions of vital
importance to contemporary theatre practice and the histories of theatre.
These may include perspectives from theatre research, generalist theatre
studies, training/vocational courses, and of course, from the industry
itself.

The conference will appeal to a broad range of people involved in the
performing arts, both from within and outside the tertiary education
sector.  Four distinguished theatre professionals will deliver Keynote
Addresses to the conference: Wesley Enoch, Josette Feral, Keith Johnstone
and David Williamson represent between them a fascinating diversity of
views on the links between theatre scholarship and professional theatre
practice.  (See below for details of speakers.)

PAPERS ARE CALLED FOR IN THE FOLLOWING TOPIC AREAS:

* How does practical theatre-making benefit from rigorous reflection and
analysis?  How can the theoretical discourses of gender and sexuality,
post-colonialism, multiculturalism, interculturalism and so on take into
account the pragmatics of professional production?  In what ways should the
professional theatre be concerned with the politics of representation?

* How can theatre histories and historiographies inform and support
contemporary theatre and other performance practices?

* What is being done to consolidate links between industry and academy?
What are the benefits of Performance As Research for each?  Should
Performance As Research 'take account' of economic considerations?

* What are the impacts of economic rationalism on drama studies, vocational
training and professional theatre practices?  What are the assumptions
implicit in terms such as 'industry', 'profession', 'academy', 'university'
and 'performance'?

The conference convener would be happy to discuss ideas and proposals, even
if in the earliest stages of development.

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One day of the conference (Wed 7.7.99) has been specially designated a
'Links with Industry' day.  This day will include the official launch of
the new ADSA 'Links With Industry' Brochure, as well as panels and papers
addressing the following questions:

What is the 'the academy'?  What is 'the industry'?  What links exist
between them?  Do they have responsibilities towards one another?  Does
dialogue between them constitute a type of intercultural exchange?

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                           KEYNOTE SPEAKERS


WESLEY ENOCH is one of Australia's leading young theatre directors and
writers.  The founding Artistic Director of Kooemba Jdarra Indigenous
Performing Arts, Wesley led the company to international prominence during
his directorship.  His critically-acclaimed play '7 Stages of Grieving'
(co-written with Deborah Mailman) has been published by Playlab Press.
Wesley will direct his new musical 'The Sunshine Club' (co-written with
John Rodgers) in 1999 for the Queensland Theatre Company, with whom he is
presently an Artistic Associate.

JOSETTE FERAL is full professor at the Drama Department of the Université
du Québec à Montréal . She is currently Vice-President of the International
Federation for Theatre Research, and is on the editorial boards of several
international journals.  She has published several books, including 'Mise
en scène et jeu de l'acteur (I & II)' (1997/98), 'Rencontres avec Ariane
Mnouchkine' (1995) and 'La culture contre l'art: essai d'économie politique
du théâtre' (1990). She has also published several articles on the theory
of theatre in Canada, the United States and Europe, mostly in Cahiers de
Théâtre Jeu, SubStance, Théâtre Public, The Drama Review, Modern Drama, The
French Review, Discourse, Theaterschrift and Poétique.

KEITH JOHNSTONE is Professor Emeritus at the University of Calgary.  A
playwright and director, Keith is a leading authority in the field of
public improvisation, and the inventor of the internationally-recognised
Theatresports.  'Impro', his classic text on improvisation, has been
translated into several languages.  He has invented many new forms of
improvisation, including Gorilla Theatre and Micetro Impro which, along
with his teaching techniques, are used world-wide.

DAVID WILLIAMSON is Australia's best-known playwright.  The author of more
than 30 plays and screenplays, he has made a major contribution to the
development of the Australian mainstage over 3 decades.  His plays,
produced regularly throughout Australia, are commonly the focus of academic
analysis.  At the same time, Williamson is known for his own, often
satirical, representations of academics and academic discourse.  His new
work, 'Corporate Vibes', is set to open just prior to 'Industrial
Relations'.


* INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS will also feature a strong performance program,
comprising contemporary works of Performance As Research.  In addition to
conference papers and keynote addresses, there will be workshops and panel
discussions.

* KEITH JOHNSTONE has made himself available for a workshop designed
specifically for conference delegates, on Sunday July 4th, immediately
prior to the conference's official commencement.

* CHAUTSI (Council of Heads of Australian University Theatre Studies
Institutions) will hold its first annual general meeting during the ADSA
Conference.


                CALL FOR PAPERS, PRESENTATIONS & WORKSHOPS


NB:  Delegates who wish to present a paper must register for the
conference, and should be financial members of the Australasian Drama
Studies Association ($60 per annum; $30 for students).  For details on
membership, contact ADSA, English Dept, University of Queensland, Australia
4072.


*       Deadline For Offers is Friday, 30th April 1999

*       Papers and presentations should generally be either 20 or 30
minutes long; workshops 2 hours

*       Please forward a title and 200 word abstract by 30th April 1999,
indicating preferred length, to conference convener:

        Dr Paul Makeham
        Academy of the Arts (Drama)
        QUT Kelvin Grove Campus
        Victoria Park Rd
        QLD, 4059
        AUSTRALIA

         Fax:     61 7 3864 3975
         Ph:      61 7 3864 3234
         email:  p.makeham at qut.edu.au

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  ***  THIS IS A CALL FOR PAPERS ONLY  ***

FULL REGISTRATION, ACCOMMODATION AND PAYMENT DETAILS WILL BE FORWARDED TO
YOU SOON.

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Gordon Beattie
Senior Lecturer
Co ordinator BA Theatre Theory and Practice - Theatre Nepean
School of Contemporary Arts
Chair CMC Design and Contemporary Arts

Uiversity of Western Sydney, Nepean
PO Box 10, Kingswood                    phone   (02)9852 5524
NSW 2747 Australia                      fax     (02)9852 5534
 email   g.beattie at uws.edu.au    International 011 61(DROP THE <0>-2)

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