2nd International Conference on the Theatre of Hellenism in the Diaspora. Dramaturgical Writings and Performative Practices in the Greek Diaspora in the Modern and Contemporary Period
Paris
Organization: Universities of Athens, Lille,Strasbourg,Montpellier Paul-Valéry, INALCO and ELIAM
2nd International Conference on the Theatre of Hellenism in the Diaspora
Dramaturgical Writings and Performative Practices in the Greek Diaspora in the Modern and Contemporary Period
Paris
16-17 October 2026
Following the successful organization of the 1st International Conference in Brussels (2023), we invite you to the 2nd International Conference on the Theatre of Hellenism in the Diaspora, which will take place in Paris on 16-17 October 2026. The event is co-organized by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Undergraduate and Graduate Programs, Research and Documentation Laboratory of Modern Greek Theatre, Department of Theatre Studies, NKUA), the University of Lille (Centre for Studies in Civilizations, Languages and Foreign Literatures), the University of Strasbourg (Department of Modern Greek Studies), the University of Montpellier Paul-Valéry (Department of Modern Greek), Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (INALCO), the Hellenic Historical Archives of the Eastern Mediterranean (ELIAM), and the Hellenic Community of Paris and Surroundings.
The conference will focus on dramaturgical expressions and performative forms emerging in the theatre of Greeks in the Diaspora, highlighting the diverse aesthetic practices that shape theatrical production beyond the Greek national context.
Indicative thematic areas of the conference:
o Dramaturgy of memory and hybrid identity. Original dramaturgy of Greeks in the Diaspora
o Theatre and language: bilingual or multilingual works, translation and cultural accessibility
o Performance and cultural mediation. Performances, theatre companies, and creators from the 17th century to the present day, in the modern and contemporary period
o Community-based and participatory theatre projects
o Artistic identities in transition: Greek creators with international careers
o Reception of modern Greek diasporic theatre in host countries
o Re-negotiating “Greekness” through the theatrical perspective of the Diaspora
o Theoretical approaches to diasporic theatre: postcolonial and intercultural studies, performance studies
The conference aims to create a polyphonic and interdisciplinary field of dialogue where artistic practice intersects with theoretical investigation, and where the theatre of the Greek Diaspora is approached both as a historically situated cultural phenomenon and as a contemporary creative condition. Particular attention will be given to the study of dramaturgical writings and performance practices developed within and beyond Diaspora communities, in the modern and contemporary era, highlighting how they engage with discourses of identity, cultural hybridity, memory, and artistic mediation. The convergence of different approaches seeks to position diasporic theatre as a crucial field of study within Modern Greek Theatre.
Call for Proposals
Interested participants are invited to submit a title, an abstract (up to 300 words), and a brief CV (up to 200 words) via the following online form by 10 January 2026:
Submission form: https://forms.gle/RPp5cwzcuZ6iBQ5c6
Abstracts should clearly outline the context of the proposal, its methodological approach, and its contribution to the conference themes.
Languages of the Conference: Greek, French and English
Inquiries: thbousiop@theatre.uoa.gr
Scientific Committee
· A. Altouva, G. Varzelioti, K. Diakoumopoulou, Gr. Ioannidis, P. Michalopoulos, G. Pefanis, Chr. Stamatopoulou-Vasilakou – National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA)
· C. Bobas – University of Lille
· A. Dalachanis – Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), Hellenic Historical Archives of the Eastern Mediterranean (ΕΛΙΑΜ/ELIAM)
· G. Kostakiotis, Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (INALCO)
· I. Tsamadou-Jacoberger, M. Zerva – University of Strasbourg
· M. Voga – University of Montpellier Paul-Valéry
Organizing Committee
Th. Bousiopoulou, N. Papailiaki, K. Diakoumopoulou, A. Vassilopoulou
https://conferences.uoa.gr/event/113/
Thalia Bousiopoulou