The Eighth Triennial Congress and Conference of the Shakespeare Society of Southern Africa – Call For Papers

The Eighth Triennial Congress and Conference of the Shakespeare Society of Southern Africa
Rhodes University, Grahamstown
Eastern Province, South Africa
3-5 JULY 2012
Conference Website

Abstract Deadline: 29 February 2012
Theme: Staging Shakespeare – Direction, Design and Reception

This conference looks at Shakespeare in the theatre, with particular attention to the contemporary and historical challenges of staging his plays. Accounts by directors, theatre practitioners, and theatre historians are particularly welcome. We are very pleased that the following have agreed to give plenary lectures:

  • Robert Gordon. Professor of Drama and Director of the Pinter Centre for Research in Writing and Performance. of Goldsmith College, University of Londo.
  • Dame Janet Suzman, the famous Shakespearean actress and author of Acting with Shakespeare.
  • Scott Newstok, Professor at Rhodes College, Tennessee.

Call for papers

Papers of 25 minutes duration are invited on the following or related topics:

  • Shakespeare on stage: contemporary approaches
  • Visualising the Shakespearean stage: stark or sumptuous?
  • Staging Shakespeare’s text: what price language?
  • Beyond Words: Shakespeare and Physical Theatre
  • Styling Shakespeare for film
  • Staging my country’s Shakespeare
  • The influence of Victorian Shakespeare on stage and in literature
  • Tweaking Shakespeare – the director’s ‘Aye’: feminist/proletarian/(anti-) sexist/religious/eco-critical productions
  • Shakespearean music and choreography
  • Touring Shakespeare
  • Shakespeare on the South African stage
  • Shakespeare between cultures: reaching the multivalent audience
  • Indigenising Shakespeare on stage
  • Staging Shakespeare in translation.

Abstracts of no more than 250 words should be sent to the conference coordinator, Warren Snowball (w.snowball@ru.ac.za) by 29th February 2012. Those who wish to put together special interest sessions should notify the coordinator concerning the proposed topic and participants.

For further information and to answer any queries, please contact the conference secretary, Eddie Baart: shakespeare@ru.ac.za