The 15th Children and Youth Theatre Art Research Forum concluded in Subotica

The 15th edition of the Children and Youth Theatre Art Research Forum on the topic of Movement, Listening and a Changing Perception of Children and Youth Theatre – as part of the 31st International Festival of Children's Theatres Subotica – has concluded on September 26, 2024.

Head of the Forum Dr. Marijana Prpa Fink reflected on the 15th edition of this gathering of professionals: "This year's edition of the international Forum was an opportunity for theatre researchers of 14 countries to present their delicate research findings to the public. The unique quality of the Forum is the opportunity to witness firsthand how different cultures treat theatrical art, as well as to analyze various projects – all of which will be publicized in an upcoming Forum anthology. Numerous researchers from all over the world frequently return to take part in the Forum thus reaffirming its quality and potential. It’s a good thing that an interdisciplinary approach was also present at the Forum, so it was possible to examine certain topics from different scientific and research angles. Also, different generations of researchers - practicing mutual respect - reevaluated theatre together with the aim of changing the perception of theatre for children and young people.

During four working days, the following subtopics were presented: Movement, sound and perception, stage presence, Theatre for the youngest audience, Changes in theatre for children and youth and The theatre and the community.”

Bartosz Kurowski from Poland - one of the participants of this year's Forum - is the coordinator for international relations and development at the Pinocchio Theatre in Łódź and also the curator of an international performing arts festival for children and youth, S Plot. He had previously attended the Forum in Subotica; now, for the first time, he has participated in the discussion, speaking about his projects and his Ph.D thesis.

"It’s important to exchange experiences and knowledge with fellow children and youth theatre enthusiasts. The world keeps changing and the theatre is changing with it. Children are also changing and I think we should reflect on what kind of theatre and performing arts in general we want to create for them. That's the reason I'm here and I'm very interested in discussing these topics," Kurowski said.

Erika Hughes from England has also attended the Forum in the past and this is her second stay in Subotica: "I really like the sense of community here. This year, I presented my brand new project of which I have not yet talked publicly anywhere else. I felt this was a really good place to get important feedback right at the start - which differs from the usual academic route where you present your project when it's finished. I was pleased to receive positive reactions and confirmation that my project was worthy, but I could not have predicted the impression it would make on people. That feedback suggests where I should go in the next steps of my research.”

Carmen Sanchez Duque – a pedagogue and university professor from Chile – has also presented her work titled Body, emotions and resistant voices: Theatrical creativity as a means of expression - treatment in a hospital classroom in Subotica. "I am very happy to be in Serbia for the first time. People here are very welcoming and kind. I am also glad that I have met many different people from numerous countries, not necessarily artists, but also theatre theorists. "We had a lot of interesting conversations and exchanging of opinions upon watching the plays at the festival," she pointed out.

The forum was attended by participants from 14 countries, from four continents: Dr. Charlotte Allan (Scotland), Dr. Michael Bablak (Slovakia), PhD student Branka Bajić Jovanov (Serbia), Jovan Caran (Serbia), PhD student Felicia Cucuta (USA), Dr. Paweł Gałkowski (Poland), Dr. Goran Gavrić (Serbia), MA Irene Herraez (Spain), Dr. Erika Hughes (Great Britain, England), Dr. Leva Lackevičiute and Raimondas Klezys (Lithuania), Dr. Luka Kecman (BiH, Republika Srpska), PhD student Ilze Klavina (Latvia), PhD student Bartosz Kurowski (Poland), PhD student Rodrigo Andrés Mardones Carrasco (Chile), PhD student Milica Šećerov (Serbia), Dr. Uroš Mladenović (Serbia), Robert Molnar (Serbia), Cliodhna Noonan (Ireland), MA Marijana Petrović (Serbia), Mohammad Reza Gharibzadeh (Iran), PhD student Carmen Sanchez-Duque (Chile), Dr. Ewa Tomaszewska (Poland), Dr. Branislava Trifunović Šalamon (Serbia), Dr. José Manuel Valbom Gil (Portugal), Dr. Agota Vitkai Kucera (Serbia), and Dr. Michał Wendland (Poland).

The 31st International Festival of Children’s Theatres Subotica concludes tonight with an official closing ceremony at 7 p.m. at Subotica Children's Theater where festival prizes will be awarded and their winners announced. In the official selection, 12 plays for children from around the world - picked by the Festival selector Dr. Zoran Đerić - were performed.

This year's "Little Prince" Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding contribution to the development of culture and performing arts for children were presented to Dr. Luka Kecman (in domestic artist category) and Jaroslaw Antoniuk from Poland (in foreign artist category).

The "Oton Tomanić" award - an award for exceptional contribution to Theory of Theatre for children and youth - was presented to Dr. Ewa Tomaszewska from Poland.

The International Festival of Children's Theatres Subotica is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, the Provincial Department for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities of Vojvodina and the Municipality of Subotica.