London’s history as a cultural, financial, and imperial center invites reflection on decentralization, redistribution, and democratization within theatre, performance, and cultural production. These terms intertwine: decentring often requires redistribution, enabling democratization by broadening access, participation, and representation.

The conference addresses pressing cultural dynamics, including the hybridization of performance forms, reductions in arts funding, and evolving leadership models that prioritize equity and pluralism. In theatre and performance, decentring may challenge hierarchical structures or foster new centers, while redistribution raises questions about access, equity, and sustainability in a global arts ecosystem. Democratization involves navigating tensions between cultural democracy and the democratization of culture, exploring how theatre reflects the demos and amplifies voices amid rising authoritarianism.

Proposals are invited to explore these themes across a wide spectrum, including artistic processes, training systems, audience engagement, industrial frameworks, and intersections of identity and cultural definitions. The conference encourages interdisciplinary and monodisciplinary submissions, aiming to foster collaboratio

n and dialogue among scholars and practitioners. While it seeks to perform its own decentring, it offers a central forum for sharing insights into the transformative potential of theatre and performance in today’s complex cultural and political landscape.