On 24–25 November 2026, the Russian State Art Library will host the 17th International Academic Conference “The Theatre Book: Between Past and Future”
Dear Colleagues,
The Russian State Art Library (RSAL) will hold the 17th International Academic Conference “The Theatre Book: Between Past and Future” on 24–25 November 2026.
The theme of the 2026 conference is “Theatre Memoirs in Library and Archival Collections.”
The memoirs of theatre figures are not only important personal documents, but also a valuable source for researchers of theatre, literature, and culture in general. The materials reflect both creative aspects (the work of actors, directors, playwrights, artists, theatre companies, etc.) and theatre’s connection with social and political processes in the country, as well as everyday theatre life. Although memoirs are published regularly, there are numerous challenges in identifying, preserving, and researching memoirs held in libraries, archives, and private collections. Furthermore, the experience of publishing memoir collections has been little studied.
The conference is interdisciplinary in nature. Invited to participate are book, theatre, and cultural studies scholars; philologists; historians; and specialists from libraries, museums, archives, and institutes.
Conference topics include:
-Unpublished memoirs in private and library collections and archives.
-The history of the creation and publication of specific theatrical memoirs.
-Experience in publishing theatrical memoirs.
-Issues in cataloguing theatrical memoirs.
-Copies bearing authors’ inscriptions, bookplates belonging to theatre figures, etc.
The programme includes 15-minute presentations and 10-minute reports. Individual presentations by participants from other cities may be delivered online.
A collection of academic articles will be published following the conference, with inclusion in the Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI).
Due to major renovation work on RSAL’s main building, the conference will be held at the Library of Foreign Literature (Small Hall), 1 Nikoloyamskaya Street, Moscow.
Conference contacts:
bisk@liart.ru
+7(495) 692–06–53
