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Call for Papers: Florentina Holzinger & Co: Performing Pleasure, Risk and Rapture
Journée d’Étude: Trump and Brexit
Sorbonne University, 6 November 2026
The year 2026 marks the tenth anniversary of two events that radically reshaped the political landscapes of the United States and the United Kingdom: Donald Trump’s first presidential victory and the Brexit referendum. This anniversary invites a retrospective look at the political forms that have populated theatrical stages over a decade marked by uncertainty and political reconfiguration.
On this occasion, a Journée d’Étude, organized by Lisa Bertucco (Sorbonne Université/VALE), Agathe Faucourt (Sorbonne Université/VALE), and Xavier Lemoine (Université Gustave Eiffel/LISAA) will be held at Sorbonne University on Friday, November 6, 2026. The call for proposals is available here.
Proposals in French or English (300 words + short biography) should be sent before May 15, 2026 to xavier.lemoine@univ-eiffel.fr, lisa.bertucco@sorbonne-universite.fr, and agathe.faucourt@sorbonne-universite.fr.
W3 Professur für Anglistische Literatur- und Kulturwissenschaft
mit dem weiteren Schwerpunkt Environmental Humanities, Technische Universität Braunschweig.
Bewerbungsfrist: 11.05.2026
IFTR World Congress – Political Performances Working Group
Melbourne, 6-10 July 2026
Contemporary Immersive Practices: Intersections of Theatre, Aesthetics, Pedagogy, Performativity, Extended Reality (XR) and Artificial Intelligence
ESSE Conference, Santiago de Compostela, 31 August-4 September 2026
Immersive practices have been reshaping contemporary creative landscapes, blurring the lines between performer and spectator, fiction and reality, experience and learning. From immersive theatre to digital environments, site-specific performances, interactive storytelling and artificial intelligence-driven systems, the role of the audience has shifted from passive observer to engaged participant. These evolving formats invite us to reconsider not only how we experience art, but also how we learn, perceive and interact within these mediated spaces. But what does this shift mean in aesthetic and pedagogical terms? This seminar seeks to explore the multifaceted nature of immersive creations and their implications for spectatorship. We invite contributions that examine how immersive experiences redefine artistic engagement, emotional investment and cognitive processes, as well as their potential applications in education and training. By opening a dialogue between scholars and practitioners working on immersive theatre, digital media, performance studies, visual arts and language learning, this seminar aims to foster interdisciplinary discussions on the aesthetic and didactic dimensions of immersive works.
Topics may include but are not limited to: • The aesthetics of immersion in contemporary artistic creations • The evolving role of the spectator in immersive practices • The intersection of immersive experiences and cognitive sciences • The pedagogical value of immersion in language learning • The impact of XR technologies (VR, AR, MR) on immersive storytelling • The use of artificial intelligence in computer theatre and its implications for immersive experiences • The integration of artificial intelligence in immersive creation processes (generative tools, adaptive narratives, human-machine interaction) • Ethical considerations and boundaries of immersion in performative arts • Performativity of spectatorship in immersive practice We welcome contributions from researchers in theatre and performance studies, literature, digital humanities, media studies, language education and related fields. Our goal is to create a dynamic, inclusive discussion space that highlights diverse approaches to immersion and its broader implications.
CONVENORS: • Cyrielle Garson (Avignon University, France) cyrielle.garson@univ-avignon.fr • Virginie Privas-Bréauté (University of Lorraine, France) virginie.privas-breaute@univ-lorraine.fr • Jan Suk (University of Hradec Králové, Czech Republic) jan.suk@uhk.cz • Ivan Lacko (Comenius University, Slovakia) ivan.lacko@uniba.sk„
Deadline: 31 January 2026
More information on the ESSE conference can be found on the following website: https://www.esse2026.com/en/calls_participation.php
Call for Papers – „Of Mutability and Malleability: Re-Imagining the Contours of US Theatre and Drama“
10-13 June 2026, University of Toulouse-Jean Jaurès