Conference Theme: Milestones and Markers

In 2025, we invite you to join us at Warwick to celebrate and reflect on two significant milestones. The Theatre and Performance Research Association (TaPRA) turns 20 this year, while Theatre and Performance Studies at Warwick is celebrating its 50th birthday (and we’re going to celebrate it in style!)

Our conference will provide an opportunity for former, current and new TaPRA members to collectively consider the past and futures of the organisation, our discipline and their place in higher education. Although we face challenging times, we mustn't forget the importance of celebrating and advocating for our discipline and our work. We should remember just how far we've come together; to be mindful and respectful of those who have come before us, their methodologies and approaches; and to champion and support the next generation of scholars and the work that lays ahead for them. Our conference keynotes, plenary panels, artistic activity, conference dinner and programmed events will speak to the themes of milestones and markers, focussing on celebrations, festivities, spectacle and joy.

We look forward to welcoming delegates back to the West Midlands – a region that TaPRA last visited in 2015, when it was hosted by the University of Worcester. In the last five years, our region has played host to cultural events of national and international importance, with Coventry holding the title of UK City of Culture in 2021-22 and Birmingham hosting the Commonwealth Games and its accompanying cultural programme in 2022. Despite the financial failure of the City of Culture and significant cuts to arts funding in Birmingham, there are things to celebrate. The region continues to benefit from the legacies of this substantial investment, with transformed city centres and vibrant cultural offerings, which we hope to find ways for you to experience during TaPRA 2025.

Conference activity will take place across Warwick’s Cultural Quarter, which includes our new Faculty of Arts Building(opened in 2022),the Oculus Teaching and Learning building (opened in 2016), and Warwick Arts Centre (fully re-opened after major re-development in 2022).

We'll look forward to welcoming you to Warwick in August 2025!

Conference Timeline: Key Dates

We have produced a list of key dates for you to have in mind for the TaPRA 2025 conference:

24 January 2025 - Deadline for working groups to produce their calls for paper

3 February 2025 - Calls for Papers to be released to all members

10 March 2025 - Abstract submission deadline for all working groups.

11 April 2025 - All applicants to have received notice of their acceptance in the conference proceedings.

25 April 2025 - Working groups will produce draft schedules by this date and share them with conference hosts.

12 May 2025 - Registration opens

26 May 2025 - Full draft programme released by the Warwick team

30 June 2025 - Early Bird Registration closes

18 July 2025 - All presenters to be registered by this date

12 August 2025 - Registration closes.