2012 ITIA Conference: Theatrical Theology — Conversations on Performing the Faith
15–17 August 2012
Influenced and inspired by Hans Urs von Balthasar’s seminal work in The Theo-Drama, a growing number of contemporary scholars in various theological disciplines are discovering the potential for interdisciplinary conversation between theology and theatre. From a theological perspective, there are several reasons why drama and theatre present themselves as particularly fitting conversation partners, including the inherently dramatic form of God’s revelation in word and deed, the role of Scripture as a text which invites performance rather than passivity, faithful action as both the goal and means of theological understanding, the public and communal nature of theology, and the indeterminacy, provisionality, and ‘improvised’ nature of the theological task. For its part, theatre has always been compelled to acknowledge a debt to its ancient and longstanding entanglements with religious and theological perspectives, and may have much to gain from the process of revisiting and responding to these, not least in their present-day Christian form.
The task of pursuing a serious and constructive interdisciplinary exchange between theatre and theology, however, is one that has only just begun. Furthermore, suspicions persist in some theological quarters regarding the value of interdisciplinary approaches to theology as such, and towards theatre in particular which, among the arts, has experienced a particularly volatile relationship with the Church across the centuries. In response to all of this, Theatrical Theology: Conversations on Performing the Faith will seek to demonstrate the fruitfulness for constructive Christian theology and theatre alike of pursuing the conversation further, tracing some of the advances that have already been made, and identifying new challenges and opportunities still to be reckoned with as the interaction continues and develops further.
Our plenary speakers are among those whose work has already embarked upon the conversation between theology and theatre. In addition to these plenary presentations, there will be several on the conference theme. Furthermore, it is expected that the conference programme will include conversations with theatre practitioners and a specially stage theatrical performance. Click to view the conference poster.
David Brown (St Andrews)
“The Potential of Theatre for Insight and Revelation”
David Brown (PhD, Cambridge) is Professor of Theology, Aesthetics and Culture and Wardlaw Professor at St Mary's College, the University of St Andrews. Before taking up his post at St Andrews in 2007, Professor Brown was a Tutor in Theology and Philosophy at Oriel College, Oxford and University Lecturer in Ethics and Philosophical Theology. He became Van Mildert Professor of Divinity at Durham University in 1990 and remained there until coming to St Andrews. Visit David Brown's profile .
Shannon Craigo-Snell (Louisville Seminary)
“In Praise of Empty Churches”
Shannon Craigo-Snell (PhD, Yale) is Professor of Theology at Lousville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. From 2001 to 2011 she taught in the Religious Studies department at Yale University. Visit Shannon Craigo-Snell's Louisville Seminary profile .
David Cunningham (Hope College)
"'And That's True Too': Revelation, Drama, and the Shape of Christian Ethics"
David Cunningham (PhD, Duke) is Professor of Religion at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, USA. Professor Cunningham is also professor of the CrossRoads Project at Hope College. Visit David Cunningham's Hope College profile .
Jim Fodor (Bonaventure)
“Rehearsal Time: The Play of Christian Life”
Jim Fodor (PhD, Cambridge) is Professor of Theology at St Bonaventure University in New York, USA. Visit Jim Fodor's St Bonaventure University profile .
Timothy Gorringe (Exeter)
“Revisiting God’s Theatre: The Limits of a Metaphor”
Tim Gorringe is St Luke's Professor of Theological Studies at Exeter University, where he has taught since 1998. Prior to his time at Exeter, Professor Gorringe served as a Reader in Contextual Theology at the University of St Andrews. Visit Tim Gorringe's Exeter University profile .
Ivan Khovacs (Canterbury Christ Church)
"Theatrical Action, Character Play and the Drama of Gethsemane"
Ivan Khovacs (PhD, St Andrews) is a Senior Lecturer in Theology and Religious Studies at the Canterbury campus of Canterbury Christ Church Universty. Visit Ivan Khovac's Canterbury Christ Church University profile .
George Pattison (Oxford)
“Dramatizing Repetition: A Workshop and Reading Based on Kierkegaard’s Repetitions”
George Pattison (PhD; DD) is the Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity at Christ Church, Oxford University. Professor Pattison served as Dean of Chapel at King's College Cambridge from 1991 to 2001 and Associate Professor of Practical Theology at the University of Aarhus, in Denmark, from 2002 to 2003. Visit George Pattison's Christ Church, Oxford profile .
Short papers proposals are invited on the conference theme, including the following topics:
- Theatrical models and metaphors in Christian theology
- Character formation for life and the stage
- Ethics, improvisation, and performative wisdom
- Christian practices and theatrical skills
- Scripture as dramatic text
- Liturgy, worship, and performance
- Theodramatic ecclesiology and company life
- Mission and audience participation
- Stage, place and contextual theology
- Embodiment and performing the faith
Proposals should be for 20-minute papers to be followed by 10 minutes for questions. Please include in the proposal your name, institution, paper title, and abstract (not exceeding 200 words). Paper proposals will be considered immediately, and please send submissions by email to theatrical.theology@st-andrews.ac.uk before the deadline of 15 June 2012. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer bursaries for paper presenters at this time.
The conference will commence with the first plenary session at 1400 on Wednesday, 15 August and finish with lunch from 1300-1500 on Friday, 17 August. A more detailed schedule will be available soon.
Registration is now open, and all information regarding costs and detailed instructions for completing registration are available by visiting the online shop.
For more information please email: theatrical.theology@st-andrews.ac.uk
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