CALL FOR PROPOSALS OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE FORUM OF THE
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN'S THEATRES IN SUBOTICA, 2027

Dear theatre experts!

It is our pleasure to inform you that International Festival of Children's Theatres Subotica (Serbia), in co-operation with the Theatre Museum of Vojvodina from Novi Sad (Serbia), is organizing an INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COLLEGE OF THEATRE ARTS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH conference for the eighteenth time.

34th INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN`S THEATRES SUBOTICA (19 – 24. september 2027)
18th THEATRICAL ARTS RESEARCH FORUM FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

TOPIC: TRADITION AND THE UNEXPECTED IN THE THEATRE FOR CHILDREN AND CHILDREN AND YOUTH

The traditional approach to stage expression in the theatre for children and youth refers to the knowledge and skill in the domain of literature, role interpretation, making and manipulating the puppets, and directing according to the well-known stage language and all the other stage elements that make up a theatre performance for young audience. Introducing the young audience into the world of imagination and new knowledge through familiar patterns offers confidence in making choices and reduces suspense in the interpretation.

What makes stage expression unexpected is knowledge and skill in choosing the stage language that offers the possibility of the unexpected influence on the young audience. Furthermore, the source of the unexpected represents new reading or adaptation of already familiar patterns that can question stereotypes or modify the same story according to genre.

Every approach strives to make a theatrical event memorable, whether to induce imagination or to provide the young audience with knowledge and roles that open the door to new possibilities.

On the proscenium stage in an open space or in a classroom, both tradition and adaptation provide new perspectives that enable novel concepts in expression through stage language.

Potential subtopics:
- Tradition and challenges in theatre for children and youth
- New readings of famous works in theatre for children and youth
- Selecting stage elements to seek the unexpected
- Making and manipulating puppets as a source of the unexpected
- A scene or a classroom as a choice
- Spoken or stage language in theatre for children and youth
- Music and sound between tradition and adaptation
- Tradition and heritage in theatre for children and youth
- Tradition and digital era
- Tradition and new concepts
- Nature and change as sources of inspiration

We hereby invite theatre scholars and researchers from all over the world to the 18th International Forum for the Research of Theatre Art for Children and Young People to present their works on the subject of Tradition and the unexpected in theatre for children and young people, and therefore contribute to the interpretation of this important theatrical theme in the rapidly changing world.

Scientific research proposal should contain name and surname, affiliation, title of the paper, and abstract up to 500 words written in Serbian and English language. 

Head of the Forum 
Marijana Prpa Fink, PhD

*** We have the honor to invite you to contribute by your presence and participation to the success of this meeting, which is going to be held within the framework of the 34th International Festival of Children's Theatres Subotica, Serbia, over four days between 20 – 23 September 2027.

Participants can decide in which section they want to contribute and send their proposals in written form (up to 500 words). Proposals must be sent no later than February 28, 2027.

Authors of accepted proposals will be notified no later than April 1, 2027!

The Festival will send an earlier reply to participants who need a confirmation of participation to ensure their arrival in Subotica. Therefore, you can send proposals until December 15, 2026 and you will receive a response promptly.

Sessions will be held in Serbian and English with simultaneous interpretation provided.

Papers presented during the conference will be published in full as a collection of papers, bilingually, in Serbian and in English language.

The authors whose proposals are accepted will be expected to submit their full papers (2000-4000 words) in English or in Serbian by 31st January 2028.

Please send your proposals to the following address: lutfestsubotica@gmail.com

Contact person: Zrnic Eva - coordinator of festival programs

Participants in the conference (chosen to present their papers) will be guests of the 34th International Festival of Children’s Theatres in Subotica in September 2027. The organizer will provide transportation from the airport (Belgrade or Budapest) to Subotica and back (for those arriving by plane), free entrance to all Festival events, and cover accommodation costs for the duration of the conference (4 nights, hotel - full board).