Personal Reflections from [six!]: Theater and Performance Studies Scholars Meet in Cologne

There are rare opportunities to gain six perspectives at once. Why six? In September 2023, I had the pleasure of participating in [six!], an international summer school for graduate theater students from JNU (Delhi, India), Northwestern University (Chicago, USA), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Santiago de Chile), University of Cologne (Germany), University of Ghana (Accra), and Tel Aviv University (Israel). From the Department of Theatre Arts at Tel Aviv University, we attended a group of four MA and PhD students led by Prof. Sharon Aronson-Lehavi and Dr. Ruthie Abeliovich. 

Coming together from five different continents, we met at Cologne University's Theater Research Collection (TWS), directed by Prof. Dr. Peter W. Marx. This archive, which is located in a magical 17th-century castle, is the largest theater archive of the German-speaking area, home to numerous theatre archival materials, including puppets, stage design sketches, maquettes, scripts, production programs, photos, clippings, and much more—in short, a heaven for theater scholars.

In this inspiring setting, we split into two seminar groups of students and faculty from all around the world around two themes: “Critical Media History” and “Untranslatability,” and explored from diverse cultural perspectives cutting edge theoretical and methodological questions in theater and performance studies. The “Untranslatability” seminar delved into the question of translation within theater and performance practice. Theater, as a medium, transcends cultures, geographical boundaries, and eras since plays are translated and performed in cross-cultural contexts. We discussed the nuances of translating language, cultural references and codes, examining when communication becomes universal and when specificity and locality are irreplaceable.

Our joint investigation was both practical and theoretical, and included a physical theater workshop alongside conceptual discussions. The “Critical Media History” seminar focused on theater and performance historiography through the lens of media that enable access to cultural knowledge. We asked in what ways can we study the theatrical past by focusing on the role of media in diverse historical and cultural moments and places, including at the current moment as new digital tools develop rapidly.

Besides engaging with new ideas and approaches, we also had the opportunity to present our own research projects in the forms of research posters and 3MTs (3 minute thesis). We received constructive feedback and insightful comments and were able to see how our ideas resonate in other cultural contexts. Visiting the TWS was also meaningful for my own research, as I was able to find there photos and newspaper clippings for my own doctoral research, which focuses on contemporary representations of the Shoah in the theater. In addition, we traveled to Düsseldorf to visit the local Theater Museum, attended the opening of the Exhibition “Sensation of Seeing” at the Wallraf Richartz Museum in Cologne, featuring artifacts from the Werner Nekes Media Collection at the TWS Theatre Archive. 

Our journey to Cologne was not just a one-time intellectual experience but rather the culmination of a long online pedagogical process that was dedicated to building a global community of theatre scholars. I have been part of this project since it started during the COVID-19 pandemic, when in-person gatherings were not feasible; this led the project faculty to initiate online meetings and seminars for graduate students from the six theatre programs. For me personally, coming to Cologne was also a realization of friendships that developed over the past three years.

The project started with Zoom seminars on theatre festivals in international contexts, in both physical and digital platforms, leading us, the students, to produce an international online festival by ourselves in 2020. Beyond the valuable academic learning, meeting theatre researchers from different corners of the world, especially during the pandemic, was a unique experience. Over the past three years we developed connections, shared updates, consulted, and gave advice to each other.

This journey in [six!], from 2020 until now, has been a unique opportunity to learn and grow. As I look ahead, I am excited to see where our academic work and friendships will take us. The connections we've forged and the perspectives we've gained are invaluable, and I am grateful to be a part of this extraordinary experience. 

We extend our thanks to the [six!] international faculty: Tracy C. Davis, Peter W. Marx, Bishnupriya Dutt, Milena Grass Kleiner, Awo Mana Asiedu, Ekua Ekumah, Andrés Kalawski, Andrea Pelegrí Kristić, Sharon Aronson-Lehavi, and Ruthie Abeliovich. We also wish to express our gratitude for the generous support provided by the Lowy International School at Tel Aviv University, the Faculty of the Arts, and the Department of Theatre Arts.