Beyond Entertainment – Theatre in Past and Present

June 25th - 26th, 2021, Mainz

Months of corona-lockdown with no or with reduced repertoires and limited access to theatres call attention to the fact that theatre (performances) play a vital role in the life of many people. What are the reasons why? The conference brings together scholars from various disciplines - not only from Classical Studies - and theatre professionals who will discuss the (possible) impact of theatre on coping with recurrent challenges in classical and modern lives.

Principally, theatre plays provide the opportunity to convey ‘veiled’ messages to the audience and to discuss topics at the heart of the contemporary society, thus making a crucial contribution to the formation of identity. Starting from an assessment of theatre in Roman Imperial Times on the basis of images, material culture, written sources and (relics of) performances, the conference will move on to contemporary theater and explore the different ways in which theatre is used by individuals, groups and communities e.g. in terms of socialisation, iconisation, self-expression, political propaganda, distraction and stimulation of the senses, professional space etc. in past and present.

Please click here to read the program in detail.

Scientific Organizers:

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Heide Frielinghaus

 

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christine Walde

 

Event Manager: Kumi-Raine Kost