CONFERENCE INFORMATION

The 2020 AusAct: Australian Actor Training Conference will be held online on two half-day sessions: Tuesday December 8 and Wednesday December 9, 2020. Specific times will be announced closer to the date. This conference and training event is a presentation of actor training scholarship by researchers, practitioners and pedagogues working with original performer training methods developed within the Australian context. It is an event focusing on Australian actor training pedagogies and research and its relationship to place, space, land, environment, culture and technologies. The conference will provide an avenue for the sharing of original materials and knowledge in dialogue within the Australian performer training context. The conference aims to celebrate, interrogate and showcase actor training methods that have been created and developed in Australia. We invite individual papers (20 minutes duration) and workshop sessions (up to 60 minutes duration).

The conference will have two main parts: Conference and Training.

TRAINING

Professionals will be invited to propose workshops based on their research and practice to be delivered online. The material must be original and align with the conference themes. 

AusAct 2020: CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The performing arts sector has been significantly hit by the impact of COVID-19. In 2020, we have seen theatres close, productions cancelled and many arts practitioners losing jobs. In addition to this, acting teachers in institutions and the private sector moved swiftly to online learning; some even transitioning to rehearsing and performing productions online. Online coaching is not a new phenomenon, as teachers have been coaching actors using video conferencing tools for most part of the decade, however, this pandemic has highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of learning in this way. Actors, while in isolation, need to maintain their skills and keep active. They are also looking at different ways in which they can keep connected with other performers. This crisis has reawakened actor training, inspiring communities and theatre companies to work on the sustained wellbeing of all actors who wish to perform and train. These teachers and artists have rapidly adapted their arts practice with new ways of working.

Overall, questions may stem from, but not limited to, the following points concerning new developments in Australian performance pedagogies:

• How are we teaching acting to the current digital generation?
• What methods have actors been working on during this time of isolation to maintain their skills?
• What new methods and practices have been developed by teaching acting online?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of teaching acting online?
• What adjustments have acting teachers made adjusting in this new environment?
• How have rehearsals and performances adjusted in this new environment?
• Are there are gaps recognised in training and process, and what would be helpful to fill those gaps?
• What are some new developments in Australian actor training that have surfaced this year in response to the ever-changing world?
• How are we adapting actor training due to financial pressures facing the tertiary sector?
• What does the post COVID-19 landscape look like for actor training?

ABSTRACT AND INFORMATION SUBMISSION 

Participants who are interested in presenting a paper and/or conducting a workshop must submit an abstract up to 250 words to Dr Robert Lewis: robelewis@csu.edu.au. Applicants who are interested in submitting an abstract for a workshop must clearly state the level of participation, e.g., beginners, intermediate or advanced, the aims and objectives of the workshop, influences/inspiration behind the work, and any other requirements needed. Applicants who are interested in staging a performance must indicate cast size, length of performance and any other helpful information. Technical requirements must be kept to a minimum. Abstract for papers, panel presentations and workshops due Friday October 2. 

KEYNOTE

Information regarding keynote speaker coming soon.

PUBLICATION

Presenters have the option to submit their papers to be considered for the peer reviewed International Journal of Practice Based Humanities (IJPBH). Presenters will be invited to submit an article version of their conference paper for inclusion early 2021. This edition of the IJPBH aims to make a contribution to the field offering new insights into Australian acting pedagogies in the past and in the present. It will consist of a selected number of essays from submissions drawing on papers presented at AusAct 2020 Conference. This volume will aim to engage with national and international debates on the nature and practices of Australian actor training as research as a scholarly methodology and/or as pedagogical practice. An expression of interest form will be available through the conference website: www.ausact.com.au. Every contributor must also fill out a ‘Publication Expression of Interest’ form in order to indicate whether or not they would like to: have their paper published in the special edition of IJPBH without being double blind peer reviewed; have their paper double blind peer reviewed to be considered for publication in the special edition of IJPBH; submit creative works and or other projects of equivalent scope; only attend the conference and present without any publication outcome. Timelines, important dates and other information relating to the publication are listed in the ‘Publication Expression of Interest’ form at: www.ausact.com.au

SCHEDULE 

Call for proposals: Monday September 7

Friday October 2: Abstracts for papers due

Friday October 16: Notification of acceptance

Early Bird registrations close: Friday November 6

Full Registration: Saturday November 7

Registration close: Thursday December 1

Conference: Tuesday Dec 8 (half day) and Wednesday Dec 9 (half day)

REGISTRATION

Early Bird: $55
Full: $90
Student/Concession: $20

Click here to register