November 4 - 7, 2025
International Conference on the Reception of Ancient Models in Modern and Contemporary Theatre
On the Stage. Myth and Ritual between Past and Present
University of Messina – Piazza Pugliatti 1, Rectorate Building
CLASTEA VIII - website
The Conference will be held at the Rector’s Palace of the University of Messina, Piazza Pugliatti 1, 98100 Messina.
The Plenary Sessions will be held in the Aula Magna of the Rectorate. Multiple Sessions will be held in the Aula Cannizzaro and in the Aula dell’Accademia Peloritana dei Pericolanti.
Conference Secretariat
Dipartimento di Civiltà Antiche e Moderne, Via Palatucci 13, Messina, stanza 312
Mail: clastea8@unime.it
Logistical Coordination
QA - QuasiAnonimaProduzioni (MESSINA)
Via XXIV maggio 28, 98122 Messina
Mail: qaproduzioni@gmail.com
ON THE STAGE Myth and Ritual between Past and Present
CLASTEA VIII "On Stage. Myth and Ritual Between Past and Present", International Conference on the Reception of Ancient Models in Modern and Contemporary Theatre will take place on November 4-7, 2025, at the University of Messina.
The CLASTEA VIII International Congress serves as an academic forum of international relevance, designed to foster in-depth critical analysis and methodological examination of ancient theatre and its evolution in contemporary contexts.
Thanks to its interdisciplinary approach, the Conference aims to encourage the intersection of multiple hermeneutic perspectives, generating a productive dialogue among specialists in the field.
During the event, internationally renowned scholars and experts from various disciplinary backgrounds will offer significant contributions to both theoretical and practical research on Greco-Latin theatrical heritage, focusing in particular on its processes of reception, appropriation, and reformulation in contemporary performative practices.
The Project
Since its foundation, the CLASTEA project has pursued the goal of promoting comparative analysis and epistemological discussion on the foundations of classical Greco-Latin theatre and its persistence, metamorphosis, and reinterpretation within the contemporary cultural landscape.
The eighth edition represents a further step in the evolution of CLASTEA, an international scientific network born from the synergistic collaboration of four prestigious universities: the University of Coimbra (Portugal), the University of Granada (Spain), the National University of Mar del Plata (Argentina), and the National University of Rosario (Argentina).
The continuity and geographical expansion of the network are evidenced by previous editions of the Conference, hosted respectively by
- National University of Mar del Plata (Argentina),
- National University of Rosario (Argentina),
- University of Coimbra (Portugal),
- University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain),
- University of Clermont-Ferrand (France),
- University of the Azores in Ponta Delgada (Portugal),
- University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).
CLASTEA is an event integrated in the CECH Secondary Project Rewriting Myth.
Call for Conference
DOWNLOAD PDF
The CLASTEA VIII International Congress is explicitly interdisciplinary and transnational, positioning itself as an inclusive academic forum open to a diverse range of participants working across the humanities and performing arts. The audience comprises multiple categories of academic and cultural stakeholders. The event brings together various categories of academic and cultural professionals, serving as a key meeting point for researchers and scholars of high scientific standing across multiples disciplines, including:
- Specialists in Greek and Latin classical philology.
- Historians of religions and anthropologists of the ancient world.
- Theatre historians and scholars of comparative dramaturgy.
- Specialists in Ancient Philosophy and Drama.
- Experts in classical reception and tradition.
- Researchers in the field of contemporary performing arts.
- Scholars of theatrical semiotics and scenic languages.
- Theorists of dramaturgical interpretation and translation.
The conference also actively engages professionals working in theatrical production and practice, along with cultural operators working to promote and preserve ancient theatrical heritage.
Particular attention is directed toward the local university community, including: University of Messina students with specific reference to those enrolled in humanities programs; PhD candidates affiliated with humanities departments; Professors of classical, theatre, and performance studies at the University of Messina and other Sicilian universities. Additionally, the Conference addresses representatives of eastern Sicilian theatre foundations; museum institutions and professionals responsible for ancient theatre collections, and cultural associations involved in the promotion of theatrical archaeological heritage.
To encourage the involvement of student and early-career researchers, the University of Messina will recognize academic credits (CFU) for students who actively participate in Conference sessions. A certificate of attendance will be issued to scholars, PhD students (both Italian and international), and professionals in theatrical and cultural sectors.
Conference Languages
Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, French, English
Submission Guidelines
Proposals must be submitted via the form provided as a Word document including the following information: full name of the proposer, institutional affiliation, email address, title of the proposal, and abstract (max. 300 words) and a short bio (max. 150 word).
Deadline - July 15m 2025
All proposals must be received by this date. Accepted participants will be notified shortly thereafter.
Publishing Proceedings
The conference proceedings will be published by the University of Coimbra Press, following a double-blind peer-review process.
SUBMISSIONS HERE
Registration
1. Panel Organizers & Speakers
a) basic registration* = 75€
b) basic registration + lunches = 115€
c) online registration** = 35€
2. Attendants:
a) attendance only*** = 20€
b) attendance only*** = free for students
c) attendance only + lunches = 65€
d) only lunches = 45 €
Optional social program
a) Social Dinner (November, 5) = 30€
b) One-day visit to Syracuse + lunch (November, 7) = 60€
*Basic registration includes:
conference materials
access to all documentation
certificate of participation
coffee breaks
**Online registration includes:
conference materials (pdf)
Conference Sessions links
certificate of participation
NOTE: Should you wish to participate as an online speaker, kindly contact the organising secretariat. Please note that online participation is reserved exclusively for cases of necessity.
***Attendance only includes:
conference materials
certificate of participation
REGISTRATION FEES MUST BE SENT TO:
QA- QuasiAnonimaProduzioni (MESSINA)
Via XXIV maggio 28, 98122 Messina
Mail: qaproduzioni@gmail.com
QA QUASI ANONIMA PRODUZIONE
IBAN : IT97Y0503416501000000002276
SWIFT : BAPPIT21P55