Applied and Social Theatre Adaptations: care-full practice in times of crisis
Date: Friday 19 February 2021
Theatre and Performance Research Association (TaPRA) Applied and Social Theatre Working Group online event Friday 19th February 2021 Care-full practice in times of crisis with keynote presentation from Prof James Thompson: Care Aesthetics and Covid: we are all one-to-one performers now… James will discuss his ongoing research on care aesthetics and explore how it has changed during the pandemic. He will argue for the urgency of more artful care during this particular care crisis, and outline examples of care aesthetics in health, social care and everyday settings. In a time of social distancing, what does it mean for applied theatre practice when we are reduced to one-to-one walks, evenings in watching Netflix, and the endless square faces of Zoom? Dominic Johnson, in his book with Dee Heddon on the life and work of Adrian Howells, suggests that the virtuosity of Howells is qualitatively different to ‘receiving a high-street pedicure’. James’ paper is offered in defence of the care aesthetics found in the humble pedicurist, and argues that in many ways, we are all one-to-one performers now… Biography James Thompson is Professor of Applied and Social Theatre at University of Manchester. He is the founder of In Place of War – a project researching and supporting arts programmes in war and disaster zones. He has written widely on theatre in conflict and peacebuilding situations and my most recent books are Performance Affects (2009) and Humanitarian Performance (2014). His book, edited with Amanda Stuart Fisher, Performing Care was published in 2020 by MUP. Keynote presentation followed by Q and A break discussions in breakout groups Short plenary – looking forward to TaPRA conference 2021. 4.30 end You are then also warmly invited to attend book launch for Kay Hepplewhite’s new book The Applied Theatre Artist: Responsivity and Expertise in Practice, published by Palgrave Macmillan, hosted by Northumbria University – link given at event. Please email any questions to the Applied and Social Theatre Working Group conveners, Kay Hepplewhite (Northumbria University), Kate Massey-Chase (Plymouth Marjon University), Matt Smith (University of Portsmouth), at: appliedandsocial@tapra.org Please note this event is for TaPRA members only. If you are not currently a member and wish to attend, you can join here: http://tapra.org/join-tapra/. Membership costs £18 (£10 concession) and will run until 1 September 2020, regardless of when you join. http://tapra.org/
