The Indian Chapter of the International Federation for Theatre Research (IFTR) will hold its V Annual Conference in Delhi. The theme of this year's conference is LANGUAGE (S) OF THEATRE.

Dates: 28-30 January 2009.

Hosted by
SCHOOL OF ARTS AND AESTHETICS
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY, NEW DELHI
In Collaboration with NATIONAL SCHOOL OF DRAMA, NEW DELHI.

Language of theatre has been a matter of concern in research, practice and discourse in theatre. In the changing global context and in the heterogeneous Indian cultural context language has to be seen in different magnitudes. ISTR feels that the theme is very much relevant in the present cultural context.

Proposals for the presentation in the Fifth ISTR conference are invited. Proposals can be either for the thematic part of the conference or for the contribution to the Research Scholars forum. Read more about the theme of the conference and details of the conference in the next page.

The conference will be held on the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University at New Delhi.

Call for Papers
LANGUAGE(S) OF THEATRE

One of the remarkable and distinctive features of theatre history and performance studies, which confront us in contemporary research, is the relations between the domains of language and theatre performance. First, there is the issue of the words rendered as speech/ song/ chant in theatre performance, the issue of the dynamics of language modality in the performance matrix. Though the notion that theatre performance is only a matter of 'performing' the written words of the script is long rejected in practice as well as theory, the insistence of the word remains in the unconscious of theatre practice and to a larger extent, analysis. One of the major areas in which this is apparent is in the notion that the 'context' of modern theatre production as a 'culture', defined in terms of the dominant spoken language of the geographical location (Bengali Theatre, Tamil theatre, etc.). Here, the language of the spoken dialogues becomes not only a practical issue of communication as well as a part of the politics of linguistic identity/power but also a theoretical issue of the 'context/s' of performance.

Secondly, it is accepted that there is a 'language of theatre', meaning that, through different audio-visual-spatial elements, performance creates and uses a unique mode of communication in which the audible word is only one, and optional, element. This is still a largely unexplored area that includes all areas of meaning production including semiotics, history, anthropology, politics and culture. Such attempts have always been complicated by the fact that a performance often employs, simultaneously, a number of 'languages' -like that of music, visual composition, painted or sculpted backdrops, choreography, etc. There is a need to address all these 'languages' as part of the composite language of theatre and the aesthetics/sociology/ politics of signification processes involved.

The third issue is the 'language about theatre'. Indian theatre history, theory and criticism has not been able to evolve a consistent set of concepts or modes of analysis given the fact that it has been an heir to diverse and conflicting influences, both Indian and Western. The ground realities of Indian theatre, though part of globalization process, still retain some distinct aspects different from cultures from which predominant theories are emerging. The extents to which these theories and concepts are useful to understand our practice is a question that needs to be addressed. There is also an urgent need to look at the past writings about theatre and examine them closely in connection with the way a performance has been read and written about. The need is to understand the issues and history of writing about theatre so that a contemporary language of performance analysis can be evolved and a historical study of performances becomes possible.

The conference theme includes broader topics:
1. Voices of Performers, Practitioners, Actors and Writers.
2. Literacy and Orality - Issues of the Word in Performance.
3. Language and Philosophy: Poetry, Presentation and Silence
4. Language and Body/Mind: Is Acting an Act of Translation?
5. Language as Context: Regional and Pan-regional Aspects/Trends/ Movements in Theatre Practice.
6. Language and Politics of Identity - Race, Ethnicity, Caste and Gender
7. Languages of Traditional Performance Forms.
8. Departures in the Language of Theatre: Modern and Contemporary.
9. Language and / of Scenography
10. Languages of Genres : Dance, Music and Visual Arts In Theatre.
11. Language of Politics -Politics of Language
12. Technology as a Language in Theatre.
13. Writing about Theatre: Reading a Performance and Analytical Practice In India.
14. Collision of Languages: Oriental Theatre and Occidental Analysis
15. Collision of Languages: East-West Interfaces


Specific proposals are invited under the broad theme of Language(s) of Theatre to present in the conference. Time duration for each presentation would be Twenty minutes and there will be Ten minutes for discussion.

Research Scholars forum
Apart from the Plenary Sessions on the theme there will be a forum for Research Scholars to present their papers. It is not necessary that it should fall under the general theme of the conference. Research scholars are invited to send proposals on the topic of their interest in theatre. They will be given TEN minutes for their presentation and FIVE minutes for discussion.
All the abstracts should be within 250 words along with brief details of the presenter.

Last date for sending abstracts: December15, 2008
Announcement of acceptance of abstracts: December 18, 2008
Last date for registration: January 10, 2009

Due to financial constraints the hosts are unable to provide any travel assistance.

Abstracts by surface mail may be sent to:
Dr. Bishnupriya Dutt
Conference Coordinator,
School of Arts and Aesthetics
Jawaharlal Nehru university,
New Delhi
India-110067
Telephones: 011-26742976/26442876/91- 9873206251
Chairman of the Organising Committee:
Prof. H. S. Shivaprakash, Dean, School of Arts and Aesthetics
91-9212706309
Conference secretary: Dr. Urmimala Sarkar 91-9868901315

(Registration fee has to be paid after the acceptance of abstract along with the registration form provided by the conference office. People can do the registration at the venue too; but there will be a late fee of Rs.100/- for all Indian participants who register at the venue including research scholars and US$ 15 for international delegates.)

Registration fee- Rs.1500/-
Registration fee for research students- Rs.750/-
Registration fee for the participants from abroad-US$75/-