Amateur theater has historically played the role of a place where theater changes occur. Whether it was the beginnings of professional theater in Slovenia (the Dramatic Society), alternative theater groups (eg, Living Theater, Pupilija Ferkeverk Theatre, Experimental theater 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 theater is rarely a subject of academic interest. This symposium will try to fill this gap. It will focus on the historical role of amateur theater in Slovenia, on the current image of certain theater phenomena (Theatre of the Oppressed, the Škofja Loka Passion Play, festivals, children's groups...) and on the search for parallels with amateur theater 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 theater 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
Programme
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 Theater Sphere and the Alternative Theater 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
Discussion: 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
Discussion: 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:
Theater of the Oppressed as a Form of Artistic Theater in Slovenia
Tomaž Krpič:
“The Passion Play has Healing Power!”
Elements and Controversies of the Theater Community of the Bishop Loka Passion Play
Kaja Novosel:
Čufar's Days: A Celebration of Culture in the City of Jesenice
Manica Maver:
Speech and Theater Education in Children's and Youth Drama Groups
Discussion: 16.40–17.30
SATURDAY, 9 November 2019
9:30 a.m.–11:10 a.m
Gasper Troha:
The Amateur Theater of Today and Its Self-Image in Slovenia
Anneli Saro, Hedi-Liis Toome:
The Challenges of Estonian Amateur Theatre
Beate Schappach:
Research on Amateur Theater in Switzerland
Vicki Ann Cremona and Marco Galea:
Transitioning Between Cultural Policy and Amateur Theater Practice
Hans van Maanen and Marline Lisette Wilders:
On the Relationship Between Complexity and Competence Within Spectator's Experiences: Amateur Versus Professional Theater and Their Audiences
BREAK: 11.10–11.30
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m
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?
Contributors: 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 Theater 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 Theater Systems).
The symposium was organized in cooperation with the University of Ljubljana, Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television, within the framework of the Theater and Interart Research program (project No. P6-0376), co-financed by the Slovenian Research Agency from the state budget.
