Theatre and Performance Research Association

TaPRA is a new British research association founded in order to foster and sustain research in all theatre, performance and related areas in British and Irish Universities and allied institutions.

This initiative is, in part, a response to the competitive, and divisive, climate that has developed incrementally over the past decade within British theatre research as a result of the RAE and other government policies.

TaPRA has also been set up in recognition of the fact that in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, in not having a 'local' umbrella forum dedicated exclusively to research, we have not been able to reap the intellectual and other benefits that such association provides, nor been able to facilitate regular scholarly exchanges between the research communities.

Above all this initiative is based in a positive desire to meet with fellow 'local' scholars in the field and exchange research, challenges, questions and anxieties, and to explore synergies and diversities.

TaPRA 2010 will be held between Thursday 9th September to Saturday, 11th September, hosted by the Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries, University of Glamorgan//Ysgol Diwydiannau Creadigol a Diwylliannol Caerdydd, Prifysgol Morgannwg, at the ATRium, Cardiff/Caerdydd.

Please note that TaPRA is run for and by its membership through its Working Groups. For this reason, neither the TaPRA executive nor the conference organizers receive or accept proposals for papers themselves. All proposals must be made directly to a TaPRA Working Group. Each Working Group specifies its own focus, format and conference theme.

The deadline for proposals for all Working Groups will be announced shortly.

TaPRA Conference 2010: Postgraduate Bursaries

TaPRA is offering five postgraduate bursaries for the 2010 TaPRA conference in Glamorgan. The bursaries cover the conference fee and a year's membership, but not accommodation. Applicants must belong to a TaPRA Working Group, and have had a paper accepted for this year's conference.Priority will be given to students in the final two years of their PhD, and those who have not received a previous TaPRA bursary.

Applications should include:
1. A Curriculum Vitae
2. A case for subvention (200 words)
3. Abstract for proposed paper (250 words)
4. Statement of support from supervisor or other appropriate member of HEI (e.g. Postgraduate Officer). This should be brief but indicate significance of contribution to TaPRA for student.

Applications should be sent to Professor Viv Gardner either by email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or in hard copy to:

Professor Viv Gardner
Drama
School of Arts, Histories & Cultures
Martin Harris Centre for Music & Drama
University of Manchester
Manchester M13 2PA

Applications must arrive by 21 May 2010. Successful applicants will be informed by 28 May 2010. Applicants are advised that they should not pay their conference fee and subscription until they have heard the result of the competition. TaPRA will pay the bursary directly to the host university.

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Postgraduate Essay Competition 2010

This competition is running again in 2010 now with a first prize of £ 150. First and runner up prizes include:

• the best essay to be published in Contemporary Theatre Review
• all titles so far published in the Palgrave ‘Theatre &’ series: Theatre & Audience, Theatre & Human Rights, Theatre & Ethics, Theatre & The City,

Theatre & Politics, Theatre & The Body, Theatre & Globalization,    Theatre & Education
•    a choice of FIVE free books from Manchester University Press
•    a year's free membership of TaPRA

Prizes will be awarded at the TaPRA Conference 2010 to be held at the University of Glamorgan.

Essays no longer than 6,000 words by bona fide postgraduate students should be submitted