October 2023

The escalation of the war triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine has once again brought war to the forefront. Unfortunately, in both Latin America and Europe, the horrors of war have never fully disappeared, as if it were a human inevitability. Carl von Clausewitz once postulated that war is nothing more than the continuation of state policy conducted through other means. Svetlana Alexiévich considers war to be a monstrous and terrifying mystery. Margaret MacMillan warns that, due to the new arsenal of weapons, we are confronted with the potential end of humanity. With varying degrees of intensity, theatre in both continents has expressed the fears and concerns brought on by war.

Our aim is to create a space for exchange, debate and reflection that focuses on contemporary plays and performances that deal with the theme of war. Several Latin American and European researchers will meet at this residency to present their research on the concept of war and theatre, discuss the theoretical references on which they are based and comment on recent texts and plays that deal with the war. The Faberllull Olot residency consolidates the International Network of Latin American and European Researchers (RIITLE, https://filcat.uab.cat/riitle/), created in 2021 and linked to the UAB’s Centre for Research in Performing Arts, as an academic meeting place for researchers and groups from Europe and Latin America. This has allowed us to build a bridge of dialogue and intercontinental exchange to contrast theatrical, cultural and political dramaturgy and realities, in order to better understand them and thereby contribute to their dissemination.

The participants in the residency, who are from Argentina, Catalonia, Chile, Colombia, Corsica, France, Italy, the Valencian Community, Peru and Uruguay, will analyse how the Latin American and European scenes have addressed the phenomenon of war in their texts and pieces. We are particularly interested in checking the similarities and differences, the theatrical aesthetics of each stage reality and the way in which they are linked to the political dimension of the performing arts. That is why we invite writers, performing arts professionals, historians and researchers to participate in the activities we have planned.

program-researching-war-and-theatre-in-the-current-scene.pdf