Amateur theatre has historically played the role of a place where theatre changes occur. Whether it was the beginnings of professional theatre in Slovenia (the Dramatic Society), alternative theatre groups (e.g., Living Theater, Pupilija Ferkeverk Theatre, Experimental theatre Glej, Pekarna Theatre) or the introduction of contemporary dance. The rise of the precariat now brings up questions about the various possibilities of professional and semi-professional activity in culture. Even so, amateur theatre is rarely a subject of academic interest. This symposium will try to fill this gap. It will focus on the historical role of amateur theatre in Slovenia, on the current image of certain theatre phenomena (Theatre of the Oppressed, the Škofja Loka Passion Play, festivals, children’s groups …) and on the search for parallels with amateur theatre in some other European countries (Denmark, Estonia, Malta, Hungary, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom). The scientific symposium is complemented by a roundtable on the status and opportunities of amateur theatre today.
The symposium will be held in Slovenian and English.
Head of symposium: Maja Šorli
International preparatory committee: Maja Šorli, Gašper Troha, Nika Leskovšek, Anneli Saro, Joshua Edelman, Vicki Ann Cremona
Program
Friday, 8 November 2019
Registration: 9.00–9.20
Introduction
9.30–11.30
Tomaž Toporišič:
Between Seduction and Suspiciousness of Experimental, Amateur and Professional
Barbara Orel:
The Amateur Theatre Sphere and the Alternative Theatre of the 1970s
Ana Kocjančič:
Valo Bratina: An Architectural and Scenographic Work for Folk and Work Stages (Hrastnik, Duplica, Trbovlje, Štore, Vrhnika, Ljubljana (Moste, Bežigrad), etc.)
Ana Vrtovec Beno:
“This is, what is our own!”
The Preservation, Presentation and Use of Cultural Heritage in Amateur Theatre
Discusion: 11.00–11.30
BREAK: 11.30–12.00
12.00–13.20
Quirijn L. van den Hoogen:
Deep into the Province: A Proposal for a Comparative Research Project on the Role of Culture and Art in Peripheral Regions Across Europe
Louise Ejgod Hansen:
The Participatory Turn as a Challenge of the Distinction Between Professional and Amateur Art
Attila Szabó:
The National English Language Drama Festival in Veszprém – Artistic Development, Social Functions and Community Building
Discusion: 13.00–13.20
LUNCH: 13.20–15.00
15.00–17.30
Aldo Milohnić:
Workers’ Stage (Delavski oder) and an Amateur Effect of “Proletarian Acting”
Barbara Polajnar:
Theatre of the Oppressed as a Form of Artivistic Theatre in Slovenia
Tomaž Krpič:
“The Passion Play has Healing Power!”
Elements and Controversies of the Theatre Community of the Škofja Loka Passion Play
Kaja Novosel:
Čufarjevi dnevi: A Celebration of Culture in the City of Jesenice
Manica Maver:
Speech and Theatre Education in Children’s and Youth Drama Groups
Discusion: 16.40–17.30
SATURDAY, 9 November 2019
9.30–11.10
Gašper Troha:
The Amateur Theatre of Today and Its Self-Image in Slovenia
Anneli Saro, Hedi-Liis Toome:
The Challenges of Estonian Amateur Theatre
Beate Schappach:
Research on Amateur Theatre in Switzerland
Vicki Ann Cremona and Marco Galea:
Transitioning Between Cultural Policy and Amateur Theatre Practice
Hans van Maanen and Marline Lisette Wilders:
On the Relationship Between Complexity and Competence Within Spectator’s Experiences: Amateur Versus Professional Theatre and Their Audiences
BREAK: 11.10–11.30
11.30–13.00
Roundtable: Amateur Theater and its Role Today
Amateur theater has played various roles in history. From educational, religious, national, to dissident. What is the role of amateur theater today? What is its place in the Slovenian cultural space?
Contributers: Barbara Orel, Marko Bratuš, Aleksandra Kmetič (KUD Trzin), Peter Militarev
Moderated by Matjaž Šmalc, JSKD – Republic of Slovenia Public Fund for Cultural Activities
The Slovenian Theatre Institute in cooperation with Amfiteater – Journal of Performing Arts Theory, Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television, University of Ljubljana (AGRFT UL) Research Group, JSKD – Public Fund for Cultural Activities of the Republic of Slovenia and the international research group STEP (Project on European Theatre Systems).
