15TH RESEARCH FORUM FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH THEATRE ART

On the Topic of: Movement, Listening and a Changing Perception of Children and Youth Theatre

The 15thResearch Forum for Children and Youth Theatre Art at the 31stInternational Festival of Children's Theatres Subotica provides the researchers from different parts of the world with an opportunity to perceive potential perception changes in theatre for children and the youth. Such changes might include: changes in observing young audiences’ needs, listening profoundly to their opinions and changes in the way children theatres will create their stage language.

Concerning the topic of perception in younger audiences of children and youth theatre, the crucial elements of stage language play an important role. Most certainly, one of those elements is movement which the performer utilizes to create its stage presence. However, stage movement retains its meaning when combined with other stage elements such as the costume, scenery, props, lighting, video... Or if the theatre stimulates the imagination outside its space: in the classroom, the playground, in nature... Thus, through the complexities of stage language, the secrets of visible and invisible worlds conjured up on stage are revealed to the young audiences. All those mysterious worlds existing on stage possess their own ways to address the young audiences’ perception. The aspects crucial to growth and development of future generations are contained in two listening processes: tuning into the process of stage expression creation and tuning into various subjects presented to the young audiences in order for them to grow up in theatre environment that will teach them what is good, noble or unworthy of attention.

Proposed topics of discussion:
- Movement and the Perception of Stage Language in children and youth theatre
- Change as a Necessity in Theatre
- Movement and Listening - In and Outside of Theatre
- Movement and Listening in Theatres of different cultures
- Movement and Listening in Theatre for Infants
- Movement and Listening in Theatre for Children with Special Needs
- Movement and Listening and the New Technologies
- Movement and Listening and the Legacy of Children and Youth Theatre
- Movement and Listening in Nature

At the 15thResearch Forum for Children and Youth Theatre Art participants from 14 countries and 4 continents will offer their views on theatrical art for children and youth in different cultures by discovering the change in the perception of stage language for young audiences through movement and listening.

During 4 days of the Forum, the participants will present their findings via following sub-themes:

- Movement, sound and perception, stage presence

- Theatre for the youngest audience

- Changes in Theatre for Children and the Youth

- The Theatre and the Community

Presented works will be published in the anthology titled Children’s Theatre: an Artistic Phenomenon.

Marijana Prpa Fink, PhD

The forum takes place in City Library from September 23rd to September 26th, starting at 6:00 PM.

The forum is being organized by Open University Subotica and The Museum of Theatre from Novi Sad.