Theater & Resistance Symposium

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center, Theatre Without Borders, The H.E.A.T. Collective, and Tamizdat joined forces to present the Theater & Resistance Symposium livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 12 January at 9:00 a.m. EST (New York, UTC -5) / 14:00 GMT (London, UTC +0) / 15:00 CET (Berlin, UTC +1) / 16:00 EET (Beirut, UTC +2) / 22:00 PHT (Manila, UTC +8).  Follow @HowlRound on Twitter for updates, and use #howlround.

The Theater & Resistance Symposium is a timely community conversation exploring the challenges and power of progressive activist theater. At this cultural moment many in the arts are seeking ways to bring activism into their work; this symposium will be a platform for sharing ideas and resources. It will inform, empower, recharge, facilitate, and inspire.

A selection of resistant theatre projects from around the world will present their work as examples; leading activist artists will discuss the challenges and successes; experts will present on diversity, climate and sustainability, artist rights, artist mobility, and public and board relations. An open discussion will follow. The Symposium is for artists and administrators alike, and is designed to build communities across borders, genres, and disciplines. We will share best practices and learn from our colleagues in the U.S. and abroad.

Scheduled speakers and panelists include: Chen Alon, Chantal Bilodeau, Matthew Covey, David J. Diamond, Lilly Fellman, Catherine Filloux, Sanjoy and Sima Ganguly, Sue Hamilton, Frank Hentschker, Souliman Khatib, Julia Levine, Jessica Litwak, Jonathan Meth, Dijana Milosevic, Issa Nyaphaga, Deepa Purohit, Martha Redbone, Ari Roth, Katy Rubin, Nisha Sajnani, Saviana Stanescu, Julie Trebault, Nia Witherspoon, Mia Yoo, and more.

Livestream Schedule:

9:00-9:20 a.m. EST (New York, UTC -5):
Introductions
 
9:20-10:30 a.m. EST:
Case Studies: "What are we doing?"
Sue Hamilton & Jessica Litwak, (Artists Rise Up LA/NY)
Issa Nyaphaga (Radio Taboo, Cameroon)                   
Dijana Milosevic (Dah Theater, Serbia)  
Soulamaina (Yes Theater, Palestine, West Bank)
Katy Rubin (Theatre of the Oppressed NYC, NY)                   
Sanjoy and Sima Ganguly, (Jana Sanskriti, India)                   
Lilly Fellman, (Arts Rights Justice, EU)                   
Soulaiman Khatib and Chen Alon (Combatants for Peace, Israel/Palestine)
Jonathan Meth, (The Fence, UK)
Iman Aoun, (Ashtar Theater, Palestine, Gaza)                   
Mia Yoo, (La Mama, NY)                   
Derek Goldman (Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics, DC) 

10:30-11:30 a.m. EST:
Artist Conversation, moderated by David J. Diamond
Catherine Filloux
Jessica Litwak
Saviana Stanescu
Martha Redbone
Nia Witherspoon
Deepa Purohit
Ty Jones
 
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. EST: 
Presentation: Theatre & Diversity
Emilya Cachapero, Theatre Communications Group
Nisha Sanjani, NYU Drama Therapy Department

Presentation: Artist Rights & Mobility
Matthew Covey, Tamizdat
Julie Trebault, PEN America

Presentation: Climate & Sustainability
Julia Levine, Climate Change Theater Action
Chantal Bilodeau, Climate Change Theater Action

Presentation: Producing & Activism
Ari Roth, Mosaic Theater
 
12:30-12:40 p.m. EST:
What do can we do?
Frank Hentschker, Martin E. Segal Theatre Center
 
12:40-1:30 p.m. EST: 
Open Discussion, moderated by Jessica Litwak
 

***

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center [MESTC] is a non­profit center for theatre, dance, and film affiliated with CUNY’s Ph.D. Program in Theatre. The Center’s mission is to bridge the gap between academia and the professional performing arts communities both within the United States and internationally. www.theSegalCenter.org

Theatre Without Borders [TWB] is an informal, grass­roots, all­volunteer, virtual, global community that shares information and builds connections between individuals and institutions interested in international theatre and performance exchange. TWB was born out of a need to connect artists around the world. TWB advocates for theatre artists who see themselves as members of a global community, as well as citizens of their respective nations and cultures. TWB engages with artists at all levels of practice. TWB is not a funder, producer or presenter. We plant seeds and watch the plants grow and develop, thanks to our many partners. www.theatrewithoutborders.com

The H.E.A.T. Collective presents workshops, events and productions that combine these four approaches to create dynamic theatrical explorations that advocate justice, healing and community building. The organization’s mission is to promote the artful expression of courageous generosity through socially engaged theatre actions. The H.E.A.T. Collective’s name is an acronym for Healing, Education, Activism and Theatre. www.theheatcollective.org. 

Tamizdat is a nonprofit organization that facilitates international cultural exchange. Motivated by the conviction that the international exchange and the mobility of culture is fundamental to the growth of global civil society. Tamizdat helps the international performing arts community address problems presented by U.S. immigration policy and procedure, and researches and facilitates advocacy toward more efficient and equitable U.S. visa procedures for the performing arts. Founded was in 1998 by an international group of musicians. www.tamizdat.org

About HowlRound TV
HowlRound TV is a global, commons-based peer produced, open access livestreaming and video archive project stewarded by the nonprofit HowlRound. HowlRound TV is a free and shared resource for live conversations and performances relevant to the world's performing arts and cultural fields. Its mission is to break geographic isolation, promote resource sharing, and to develop our knowledge commons collectively. Participate in a community of peer organizations revolutionizing the flow of information, knowledge, and access in our field by becoming a producer and co-producing with us. Learn more by going to our participate page. For any other queries, email [email protected], or call Vijay Mathew at +1 917.686.3185 Signal/WhatsApp. View the video archive of past events.