Call for Papers on the Theme 'Aspects of Performance' One day Symposium as part of the First International Mummers Unconvention Bath, UK, 17th to 21st November 2011

http://mummersunconvention.wordpress.com/

The Unconvention will be a celebration of all things mumming, with a clear emphasis on performances and workshops. For some time now, however, there has been little opportunity for folk play practitioners and researchers to share their work. The Friday of the Unconvention will therefore include a symposium to encourage that to happen.

Symposium Theme: 'Aspects of Performance' Friday 18th November 10.00 till 4.30.

Bath Spa University and Theatre

The symposium will be hosted by the Department of Performing Arts at Bath Spa University on their historic Newton Park campus. The symposium will be based in the University Theatre.

We are particularly interested in all aspects of the contemporary performance of mumming and guising, allowing for the ways in which local histories may or may not have shaped those performances.

To what extent are performances guided or driven by the calendar? Are performances associated with other special events? How do we/they find or write texts, cast, rehearse, and establish styles of performance, costumes and disguises? How do performers arrive at their contexts, venues, locations, and arrange itineraries of performance? How are performances publicised? How do people know they are happening, and who comes to see them?

What do we know about the specific and localised histories of particular traditions? Has the interplay of folklore, anthropology and performance studies influenced the way in which we think about and practice mumming and guising? Are there connections to be made between mumming and new performance forms?

To what extent might we consider mumming performances to be site-specific and/or possessed of 'mobile geographies'? Do we have ethnography of spectatorship? Do we have ethnography of performers and performance?

Submissions

We are open to interesting papers, footage with accompanying commentary, small exhibitions and poster submissions.

Abstracts (or other appropriate indicators) of no more than 250 words with contact details and brief biographical details should be submitted to s.hanvey@chester.ac.uk by Sunday 31st July. We will respond by Friday 12th August.

Symposium Leaders

Prof. Peter Harrop (University of Chester)
Dr. Peter Millington (University of Nottingham)
Prof. Mike Pearson (University of Aberystwyth