Drama Boreale 2026
Drama Boreale is a triennial conference on drama and theatre pedagogy. The 2026 conference’s theme will be ”Forces and F(r)ictions.”
Since 1994, Nordic agents in the field of drama and theatre pedagogy have taken turns organising the summer conference Drama Boreale every three years. The conference consists of presentations, workshops and combinations of these held by professionals.
The conference is aimed at creators, teachers, artists and researchers. We welcome colleagues from a wide scale of different education levels.
The Drama Boreale 2026 conference will be organised by Uniarts Helsinki’s Theatre Academy in cooperation with FIDEA, Arts Academy of Turku University of Applied Sciences, the City of Helsinki Education Division and Laajasalo Institute.
Vision statement
The 2026 conference’s theme will be ”Forces and F(r)ictions.”
Forces
Drama and theatre pedagogy has educational force and prowess. Being seen, collaborating with others, belonging to a community and engaging in invigorating interaction are basic human rights. Drama and theatre pedagogy promotes the participant’s functional capacity, both in the arts and in other areas of life, and it has major social significance. It also creates space for aesthetic experiences and the ability to see and do things differently. Artistic activities support a dynamic relationship with the world.
F(r)ictions
The position of drama and theatre pedagogy as part of the education system is diverse and multifaceted. During the conference, we view our artistic field mainly through the lens of its ability to reinforce the power of community. We welcome all forms of performing arts to join us to represent as many kinds of operational contexts as possible. We will get to together and share our views and practices that bring the relevance of artistic activities into sharp focus. We will also reflect on experiences of friction-filled processes, risk-taking and failures.
Diversity is a resource that also challenges the development of structures. The multi-voiced network of drama and theatre pedagogues promotes the social status of theatre and the self-understanding of the field.
Invited keynotes
The conference will feature two keynote speeches by experts in the fields of performing arts and arts education:
- Katariina Numminen, director, playwright, dramaturg, doctoral researcher in artistic research, teacher of dramaturgy and writing
- Nina Dahl-Tallgren, Doctor of Education, theatre pedagogue, and post-doc researcher in project Scenkonst med lärandet – SMIL
Call for papers
We welcome all forms of performing arts consisting of presentations, workshops and combinations of these to join us to represent as many kinds of operational contexts as possible. We will get to together and share our views and practices that bring the relevance of artistic activities and research into sharp focus. We will also reflect on experiences of friction-filled processes, risk-taking and failures.
Themes and questions
DB invite presentation proposals that relate to or engage with one of the conference themes and questions:
- Theatre Pedagogy in the Process of Creating a Performance
- Performance Processes in Drama and Theatre Pedagogy
- Agencies in Drama and Theatre Pedagogy
- Theatre Pedagogy and Social Change
- Emerging Practices in Drama and Theatre Pedagogy
- Collaborative Learning in Drama and Theatre Pedagogy
- Drama and Theatre Pedagogy as a Source of Empowerment
- The Advocacy of Drama and Theatre Pedagogy
Proposal time frames
Paper presentations: 30 minutes, including a 10-minute discussion.
Workshops (workshares, lecture-performances/demonstrations, multimodal presentations, panels): 60 minutes
Technical opportunities for the presentations
We welcome creative presentations for all formats, but please be mindful of the conference theme and that there is limited technical support available. Spaces have basic AV (screen and sound).
Please note that we do not offer light or sound design for your presentation or any production services. Do consider that there is very limited time for the technical set up during the programme breaks. Please let us know in your submission what your technical wishes are, so that we can allocate our resources in the best way possible. We may also contact you before making our final decision. We cannot support spatially or technically demanding performances.
Spaces available
There are Studios 1, 2 and 3, Theatre Hall, Auditorium 1 and several rehearsal rooms at the Theatre Academy reserved for the conference:
- Studio 1
- Studio 2
- Studio 3
- Theatre Hall
- Auditorium 1
- Rehearsal rooms 525, 526, 531 and 534 (black box)
We will locate your presentation in the most suitable space.
How to submit a proposals
Those interested should send a 300-word abstract and a short (max 150-word) biography (of each participating contributor in case of a joint submission) by 30 November 2025 at 23:59 (SET). Please note that we will include the accepted abstracts to our websites.
The submission should outline the title of the presentation, name (s) of the contributor (s), indicate the format and time frame, and your wishes of the space and equipment for the presentation. Presentations can be submitted by individuals or groups. Please, also indicate if you have any access needs.
Access needs
While the conference can host a limited number of presentations, the conference committee appreciates inclusivity in its evaluation by offering a quota of free registration for participants. Therefore, you are requested to present a short account in your application on Webropol form.
Acceptance notice
Applicants will be informed of their acceptance by email by the end of February 2026.
Accepted presenters are asked to confirm their participation by 15 March2026 (EET, Europe-Helsinki, UTC +2).
Registration and fees
General registration will be open on 2 May 2026 and closes on 26 June 2026.
- Conference fee for participants and presenters: 250 €
- Concession fee (students with valid student ID): 125 €
- FIDEA members: 215 € (valid membership required)
- FIDEA students: 100 € (valid membership required)
Contact details
Please don’t hesitate to be in contact if you have any queries: draama.boreale@uniarts.fi
Drama Boreale Conference Committee
- Riku Saastamoinen (Chair)
- Irene Kajo
- Annemari Untamala
- Ullariikka Koskela
- Minna Haapasalo
- Riitta Pasanen-Willberg (Practical Management)
Since 1994, Nordic agents in the field of drama and theatre pedagogy have taken turns organising the summer conference Drama Boreale every three years. The conference consists of presentations, workshops and combinations of these held by professionals.
The conference is aimed at creators, teachers, artists and researchers. We welcome colleagues from a wide scale of different education levels.
The Drama Boreale 2026 conference will be organised by Uniarts Helsinki’s Theatre Academy in cooperation with FIDEA, Arts Academy of Turku University of Applied Sciences, the City of Helsinki Education Division and Laajasalo Institute.
Vision statement
The 2026 conference’s theme will be ”Forces and F(r)ictions.”
Forces
Drama and theatre pedagogy has educational force and prowess. Being seen, collaborating with others, belonging to a community and engaging in invigorating interaction are basic human rights. Drama and theatre pedagogy promotes the participant’s functional capacity, both in the arts and in other areas of life, and it has major social significance. It also creates space for aesthetic experiences and the ability to see and do things differently. Artistic activities support a dynamic relationship with the world.
F(r)ictions
The position of drama and theatre pedagogy as part of the education system is diverse and multifaceted. During the conference, we view our artistic field mainly through the lens of its ability to reinforce the power of community. We welcome all forms of performing arts to join us to represent as many kinds of operational contexts as possible. We will get to together and share our views and practices that bring the relevance of artistic activities into sharp focus. We will also reflect on experiences of friction-filled processes, risk-taking and failures.
Diversity is a resource that also challenges the development of structures. The multi-voiced network of drama and theatre pedagogues promotes the social status of theatre and the self-understanding of the field.
Invited keynotes
The conference will feature two keynote speeches by experts in the fields of performing arts and arts education:
- Katariina Numminen, director, playwright, dramaturg, doctoral researcher in artistic research, teacher of dramaturgy and writing
- Nina Dahl-Tallgren, Doctor of Education, theatre pedagogue, and post-doc researcher in project Scenkonst med lärandet – SMIL
Call for papers
We welcome all forms of performing arts consisting of presentations, workshops and combinations of these to join us to represent as many kinds of operational contexts as possible. We will get to together and share our views and practices that bring the relevance of artistic activities and research into sharp focus. We will also reflect on experiences of friction-filled processes, risk-taking and failures.
Themes and questions
DB invite presentation proposals that relate to or engage with one of the conference themes and questions:
- Theatre Pedagogy in the Process of Creating a Performance
- Performance Processes in Drama and Theatre Pedagogy
- Agencies in Drama and Theatre Pedagogy
- Theatre Pedagogy and Social Change
- Emerging Practices in Drama and Theatre Pedagogy
- Collaborative Learning in Drama and Theatre Pedagogy
- Drama and Theatre Pedagogy as a Source of Empowerment
- The Advocacy of Drama and Theatre Pedagogy
Proposal time frames
Paper presentations: 30 minutes, including a 10-minute discussion.
Workshops (workshares, lecture-performances/demonstrations, multimodal presentations, panels): 60 minutes
Technical opportunities for the presentations
We welcome creative presentations for all formats, but please be mindful of the conference theme and that there is limited technical support available. Spaces have basic AV (screen and sound).
Please note that we do not offer light or sound design for your presentation or any production services. Do consider that there is very limited time for the technical set up during the programme breaks. Please let us know in your submission what your technical wishes are, so that we can allocate our resources in the best way possible. We may also contact you before making our final decision. We cannot support spatially or technically demanding performances.
Spaces available
There are Studios 1, 2 and 3, Theatre Hall, Auditorium 1 and several rehearsal rooms at the Theatre Academy reserved for the conference:
- Studio 1
- Studio 2
- Studio 3
- Theatre Hall
- Auditorium 1
- Rehearsal rooms 525, 526, 531 and 534 (black box)
We will locate your presentation in the most suitable space.
How to submit a proposals
Those interested should send a 300-word abstract and a short (max 150-word) biography (of each participating contributor in case of a joint submission) by 30 November 2025 at 23:59 (SET). Please note that we will include the accepted abstracts to our websites.
The submission should outline the title of the presentation, name (s) of the contributor (s), indicate the format and time frame, and your wishes of the space and equipment for the presentation. Presentations can be submitted by individuals or groups. Please, also indicate if you have any access needs.
Access needs
While the conference can host a limited number of presentations, the conference committee appreciates inclusivity in its evaluation by offering a quota of free registration for participants. Therefore, you are requested to present a short account in your application on Webropol form.
Acceptance notice
Applicants will be informed of their acceptance by email by the end of February 2026.
Accepted presenters are asked to confirm their participation by 15 March2026 (EET, Europe-Helsinki, UTC +2).
Registration and fees
General registration will be open on 2 May 2026 and closes on 26 June 2026.
- Conference fee for participants and presenters: 250 €
- Concession fee (students with valid student ID): 125 €
- FIDEA members: 215 € (valid membership required)
- FIDEA students: 100 € (valid membership required)
Contact details
Please don’t hesitate to be in contact if you have any queries: draama.boreale@uniarts.fi
Drama Boreale Conference Committee
- Riku Saastamoinen (Chair)
- Irene Kajo
- Annemari Untamala
- Ullariikka Koskela
- Minna Haapasalo
- Riitta Pasanen-Willberg (Practical Management)