On 20 – 23 February 2018, the International Federation for Theatre Research is traveling to the University of the Philippines Diliman through a regional conference (IFTR-Asia 2018), co-sponsored by the Asian Theatre Working Group. 

Established in 1957, the federation is the oldest and still the most prestigious federation of performance practitioners and scholars in terms of memberships, publications and affiliations. Its members are from different disciplines in the humanities and the social sciences interested on the study of theatre and performance vis-à-vis culture and society. The federation boasts a membership coming from more than 60 countries including the United States, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Morocco, Israel, Iceland, Ireland, Nigeria, South Africa, Chile, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Serbia, Finland, Russia, Egypt, Portugal, China and the Philippines to name a few.

The theme of IFTR-Asia 2018 is Bodies in/and Asian Theatres. Taking the cue from Asianists like Bryan Turner, Zheng Yangwen and Kuan-Hsing Chen, it is important to note that peoples in Asia experienced colonization, decolonization and now globalization albeit different modalities. These contexts, these Asianists suggested, are important socio-political and historical factors for understanding the Asian body. With this, Bodies in/and Asian Theatresis envisioned to contribute to the study of the body, particularly its functions and placements in the different cultural performances in the Asian region. Bodies in/and Asian Theatres attempts to answer these general questions: What do we mean when we talk about bodies in Asian cultural performances? What do we mean when we talk about Asian bodies in different performances outside the region? How does performance affect the way we think and do about the bodies of Asians?

To discuss the general theme, invited keynote speakers are dance and movement studies scholar Dr. Susan “SanSan” Kwan (Department of Dance, Theatre and Performance Studies, University of California Berkeley) and anthropologist Dr. Julius Bautista (Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University) and Ms. Alice Reyes, Philippine National Artist for Dance. 

Other plenary speakers are Dr. Kathy Foley, a professor of Theatre Arts at the University of California at Santa Cruz and editor of Asian Theatre Journal; Dr. Jazmin Llana, Dean of the Liberal Arts at the De La Salle Univeristy; and Dr. Paul Alexander Rae, associate professor of the School of Arts at the University of Melbourne and editor of the Theatre Research International. 

Other invited speakers include Dr. Lim How Ngean (Asian Dramaturgs’s Network), Ms. Eisa Joson (Sipat Lawin Ensemble), and Mr. Jay Cruz (Performance Network Philippines).

Regular registration for Non-Presenting Delegates will start on 16 December 2017 and will end on 2 February. 

Registration fee varies depending on your country of residence and academic status:

Type of Registration

Registration Fee

 

Band A

100 Euros

Band B

75 Euros

Student (International)

50 Euros

Local (Professional)

Php 3,000.00

Local (Student)

Php 2,000.00

For countries listed as Band A, please click here.

The registration fee for non-presenting delegates covers the cost of the conference kit and meals (lunch for three days). 

To participate in other social activities (Welcome Dinner on 20 February, ticket to the performance of the A Girl is a Half Formed Thing at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theatre, Welcome Cocktail after the performance at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theatre, Farewell and Thanksgiving Dinner on 22 February), you will be asked to pay additional 25 Euros (Php 1,200.00). 

There are also paid excursions that might interest you. Please visit the Social/Cultural Programs of the conference for more information.

Information on registration will be posted very soon on the IFTR-Asia 2018 website.

Membership in the IFTR is not included in the registration fee. To become a member, please visit IFTR Membership System at Cambridge Core.

Kindly forward this Call for Participation to your contacts and networks.  

IFTR-Asia 2018 is hosted by the Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts, College of Arts and Letters and the Asian Center. For more details about the conference, visit its official website at http://iftr-asia2018.upd.edu.ph or email iftr-asia2018.upd@up.edu.ph.