The Indian society for Theatre Research (ISTR), a partner of the International Federation for Theatre Research (IFTR) announces its second annual conference to be held at Kochi between December 9 to 11, 2005. The conference this year is being hosted by the Centre for Creative Writing, Department of Hindi at the Cochin University of Science and Technology and by the Kerala Society for Theatre Research (KSTR). The theme of the conference is �Indian Theatre- Politics and Performance�.

The first International Conference of the Indian Chapter of the IFTR was held at the University of Hyderabad. Professor B.Anathakrishnan, an advisory committee member of the ISTR and Professor in Theatre Arts, University of Hyderabad believes that the second conference will cement the sustainability of the platform of theatre researchers and foster the vast potentiality of theatre research in India.

The ISTR thus invites proposals for presentation in the proposed conference on the above-mentioned theme. A detailed note on what kind of papers are expected is given below:

INDIAN THEATRE � POLITICS AND PERFORMANCE

The history of theatre is also a history of transformations of different kinds of power relationships at the realm of culture, making one of its crucial concerns �the political�. Be that to legitimate or to question the existing ways of the world, theatre has been instrumental from its early days. Hence the political terrain of theatre, as an established system of expression, has different dimensions with regard to the society and culture. Indian theatres have seen many interlocked contexts in which politics or power structure played a crucial role with different magnitudes. In many contexts different theatres themselves originated from definite political situations; many political situations created new theatres; political interventions even in contemporary times also disturb theatrical expressions and beyond all these explicitly or implicitly the contemporary power relations influence and create newer performance and theatrical practices. Indian theatres have lived through, the Colonial, Nationalist and Modernist phases to the Post Modernist, simultaneously drawing on and reacting to the classical theatrical traditions with the focus shifting on to the marginalized communities and modes of expression. The engagement of the theatre with the political has also become manifold due the recent redefinitions of the political in the private and public spheres. From censorship, funding, viewership to propaganda and resistance, there are crucial political questions that need to be addressed in Indian theatre. Considering the cardinality of the topic, the Indian Society for Theatre Research (ISTR) has decided to have Indian Theatre: Politics and Performance as the theme for its second annual conference. The conference co-ordinators are happy to welcome scholars who are interested in presenting papers that do not deal with the issue directly. In order to initiate young researcher�s into the area of theatre research, there will also be a New Research Scholars Forum in which up coming scholars can present papers in any area of theatre.

Last date for sending abstracts: October 30, 2005.
Notification of acceptance of abstracts: November 10, 2005.
Deadline for registration: December 02, 2005.

Registration fee has to be paid after the acceptance of abstract along with the registration form provided by the conference office. People can register at the venue too; but there will be a late fee of Rs.50/- for all who register at the venue including research scholars.

The organizers regret to inform you that due to financial constraints, they will be unable to provide you any travel assistance.
The abstract may be sent to: [email protected] and [email protected]

Abstracts by surface mail may be sent to:
Prof.Aravindakshan,
Conference Coordinator
ISTR Conference, Centre for Creative Writing,
Department of Hindi,
Cochin University of Science & Technology, Cochin - 22, India, Pin - 682 022. [email protected]

Registration fee- Rs.1000/-
Registration fee for research students- Rs.500/-
Registration fee for the participants from abroad-US$50/-

Registration fee includes access to conference sessions, conference materials, food and accommodation provided by the organizers during the conference, entry to the performances organized as part of the conference and conveyance from the guesthouse to the venue as provided by the organizers. If any body need separate accommodation other than the one provided, it has to be arranged and paid by the participant. Anyhow the organizers may be able to help you to seek accommodation in nearby hotels or guesthouses upon your request.