Annual General Meeting
Australasian Association for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies
Thursday July 3rd 2008
Allen Hall
University of Otago
The meeting was opened at 4.53pm, with Jonathan Bollen in the Chair
1. Attendance and Apologies
Present:
Jonathon Bollen (Flinders University, President), Ian Maxwell (University of Sydney,
Secretary), Lisa Warrington (University of Otago), Jerry Jaffe (University of Otago),
David O’Donnell (Victoria University of Wellington), Katherine Thomas (Victoria
University of Wellington/Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School), Edwin Creely
(Monash University), Joanna Winchester (University of Western Sydney), Meredith
Rogers (Latrobe University), Adele Chynoweth (Australian National University)
Janys Hayes (University of Wollongong), Bree Hadley (Queensland University of
Technology), Peta Tait (Latrobe University), Stuart Young (University of Otago)
Suzanne Little (University of Otago), Murray Edmond (University of Auckland)
Adrian Kiernander (University of New England), Maggi Phillips (Western Australian
Academy of Performing Arts/Edith Cowan University), Veronica Kelly (University of
Queensland), Glen McGillivray (University of Western Sydney/University of
Sydney), Geoffrey Milne (Latrobe University), Yuji Sone (Macquarie University)
Mark C. Seton (University of Sydney/Macquarie University), Gillian Arrighi
(University of Newcastle), Yana Taylor (University of Sydney), Anne Thompson
(Flinders University), Adrian Guthrie (University of South Australia), Rosemary
Farrell (La Trobe University Albury-Wodonga), Flloyd Kennedy (Queensland
University of Technology), Cathie Clelland (Australian National University), Rebecca
Clifford (Australian National University), Kate Rossmanith (Macquarie University),
Megan Evans (Victoria University of Wellington), Delyse Ryan (Australian Catholic
University), Russell Emerson (University of Sydney), Paul Dwyer (University of
Sydney), David Williams (independent scholar), Julie Robson (Edith Cowan
University), Jonathan W. Marshall (Western Australian Academy of Performing
Arts/Edith Cowan University), May-Brit Akerholt (University of Sydney), Alison
Richards (University of Melbourne)
Apologies
Sharon Mazer (University of Christchurch), Joanne Tompkins (University of
Queensland), Gaye Poole (Waikato University), Julie Holledge (Flinders University),
Wil Petersen (Monash University)
2. Minutes of the 2007 Annual General Meeting
Moved: that the minutes of the 2007 A.D.S.A. A.G.M. be accepted as a true and
accurate record (David Williams/Julie Robson). Passed.
3. Business arising from the minutes.
It was noted that all matters arising from the minutes would come up later in the
agenda
4. President’s Report
Jonathan Bollen reported a number of matters:
4.1 The state of the Association’s membership, which has remained steady at around
104;
4.2 The new Content Management System for the Association’s website is ready to
go; and
4.3 Members’ achievements:
Higher Degree Research Completions
Daniel Johnston (University of Sydney; PhD)
Celina McEwen (University of Sydney; PhD)
David Williams (U.N.S.W.; PhD)
Briony Tresize (U.N.S.W.; PhD)
Rosie Klich (U.N.S.W.; PhD)
Rosemary Farrell (La Trobe University; PhD)
Meredith Rogers (University of Melbourne; M.C.A.)
Appointments
Pauline Manley (Macquarie University)
Kate Rossmanith (Macquarie University)
Glen Mcgillivray (University of Sydney)
Rosemary Farrell (La Trobe University Albury-Wodonga)
Paul Moore (University of Ulster)
Andrew Filmer (University of Wales, Aberystwyth)
Gillian Arrighi (University of Newcastle)
Stuart Grant (Monash University)
Other achievements by members
Adrian Kiernander, Ms Sue Fell, Mr Andrew McCue and Dr Anne Pender (University
of New England) received a Carrick Institute Citation for Outstanding Contrbution to
Student Learning for sustained commitment and innovation over 15 years in devising
and providing realworld learning experiences for off-campus students in the practical
study of theatre.
Paul Makeham (Queensland University of Technology) won a Dean’s Award for
Excellence in Postgraduate Supervision.
David Fenton (Queensland University of Technology) Dean’s Award for Excellence
in Teaching (Early Career).
Ian Maxwell (University of Sydney) won a Faculty of Arts Teaching Excellence
Award.
4.4 Reflections on Presidency
Indicating his intention to not seek re-election, Jonathan took a few minutes to reflect
upon his two years as President.
First, he noted that the annual conference is the heart of the organisation, and thanked
Meredith Rogers and Peter Eckersall for their work on the 2007 conference in
Melbourne, and to Stuart Young, Jerry Jaffe, Hilary Halba and their colleagues for the
current event.
He next reported that he had placed an emphasis on developing communication
within A.D.S.A., with a particular focus on the website. The major task of up-loading
abstract documents from the history of A.D.S.A. conferences, which he has
undertaken with Gaye Poole, is nearly half completed, and is already proving a boon
for researchers.
Third, Jonathan noted that A.D.S.A. in general, and the Executive and President in
particular, have taken up two roles that had been within the purview of the nowdefunct
Council of Heads of Australian University Theatre Studies Institutions
(C.H.A.U.T.S.I.):
Research policy development; and
Industrial advocacy.
With regard to the latter, Jonathan reported that representations on behalf of A.D.S.A,
to the managements of Griffith University and the University of Western Sydney
were not successful in preventing the closure of performance departments. Jonathan
suggested that we need to think about how to become more politically savvy and
effective: these kinds of activities have not, to date, been core business, but will
become increasingly important.
Finally, Jonathan indicated that he intends to concentrate on the AusStage Project
over the next couple of years, and will continue to be involved in the A.D.S.A.
Executive as Immediate Past President.
He thanked the membership and executive for their support.
Ian Maxwell moved, and Geoffrey Milne seconded, a motion of thanks for Jonathan’s
work, acknowledging Jonathan’s significant contribution to the financial health,
intellectual vigour and collegial vibrancy of the organisation. The motion was passed
by acclamation.
5. Treasurer’s Report
Meredith Rogers tabled a report for financial year 2007-8, summarised as follows:
Expenditure: $13,359.10
Income: $35,491.51
At bank June 2, 2008: $38,474.72
Meredith clarified that the bank fees item at Expenditures consisted of internet
banking fees and merchant fees, and indicated her intention to close down the
unnecessary internet banking facility.
She also reported that the Executive had resolved that the Term Deposit be extended
to one year to take advantage of more favourable interest rates.
The report was accepted (moved; seconded Mark Seton).
6. Elections
The returning officer, Ian Maxwell, reported that at the close of nominations at
11.30am on the day of the AGM, the following nominations had been received:
For President: Jonathan Bollen
For Vice-President: Gay Poole
For Secretary: Ian Maxwell
For Treasurer: Meredith Rogers
For Executive Member (Linkages): Adrian Kiernander
For Executive Member (Regional): Janys Hayes
Maggi Phillips
For Executive Member (At Large): Janys Hayes
Glen McGillivray
David Williams
Alison Richards
The postgraduate caucus had also nominated a Postgraduate Representative: Joanne
Winchester.
The uncontested nominations were declared.
Two ballots were then conducted for the offices of Executive Member (Regional) and
Executive Member (At Large). Both ballots were counted by Ian Maxwell and Adrian
Kiernander. The successful candidates were
Executive Member (Regional): Maggi Phillips
Executive Member (At Large): David Williams
It was noted that Geoffrey Milne remains on the Executive as Representative from
Australasian Drama Studies, as does the immediate Past President, Paul Makeham,
and the convenor of the 2008 conference, Jerry Jaffe. There is as yet no confirmed
venue for the 2009 conference.
7. Membership
The Treasurer reported that current membership is $90 for full members, and $60 for
concessions.
Membership currently stands at 123, up from 120 this time last year, and a gain of
about 20 overall since 2005.
8. Prizes and Rotation of Judges
2008 winners
The following prize winners for 2008 had been announced at afternoon tea:
Rob Jordan Prize for a Book by a Member:
Helen Gilbert and Jacqueline Lo for Cross-cultural Transactions in
Australasia (Palgrave McMillan)
Marlis Thiersch Prize for a Scholarly Article by a Member:
Ian Maxwell for “The Ritualisation of Performance (Studies)” in Victor
Turner and Cultural Performance (Berghan)
Philip Parsons Prize for Performance as Research
Leah Mercer for The Physics Project
The Veronica Kelly Prize for best paper by a Postgraduate at the Annual
Conference
Megan Hoffmann for her paper: “Is a Fashion Show the Place for a Political
Message? Investigating the Spectacle Dressed up in Ideas in Hussein
Chalayan’s After Words.”
Rotation of Judges: Judges for 2009
Marlis Thiersch Prize for a Scholarly Article by a Member
David O’Donnell, Laura Ginters and Alison Richards.
Philip Parsons Prize for Performance as Research
David Fenton (convenor) and 2008 awardee.
Rob Jordan Prize for a Book by a Member
Tom Burvill, Maryrose Casey and Geoffrey Milne.
The Veronica Kelly Prize for best paper by a Postgraduate at the Annual Conference
will be convened by Maryrose Casey, with the assistance of a ‘Kelly Gang’ of
colleagues at the next conference.
9. Conferences
9.1 2007 La Trobe University/University of Melbourne
Meredith Rogers reported on behalf of the convenors that the conference had been
financially successful, and that the co-convention was a ‘big success’ and a useful
model for future conferences. A detailed report has been submitted to the Executive,
and will be made available on the A.D.S.A. website.
9.2 2008 Otago University
Jonathan again expressed thanks to the convenors from the University of Otago for a
“beautifully placed, intellectually coherent, smoothly coordinated, brilliant mix of
improvisation and planned flow timed to the bell that tolls” (a reference to the clock
tower chimes that sounded every 15 minutes through the conference).
He acknowledged the great work of Claire Adams, the conference organiser, and on
behalf of A.D.S.A. expressed his thanks to the keynote speakers, Rangimoana Taylor,
Philip Auslander, John Senelick, Jean Betts, Murray Edmond and Ian Gaskell. He
also thanked Rua McCallum for her help with the Marae welcome.
Jerry Jaffe, on behalf of the conference convenors, made special mention of Hilary
Halba’s vision for and contribution to the conference (Hilary was unable to attend the
conference, as she is in New York).
9.3 2009 Perth (Edith Cowan University/Murdoch University/University of
Western Australia)
Julie Robson, Maggie Phillips and Jonathan Marshall reported on progress for the
2009 conference and tabled a flyer, budget and plan for the conference.
The theme will be ‘BOOM or BUST’, and keynotes will include Susan Melrose
U.K.), Jane Goodall (Australia), Per Brahae (Denmark), Keiji Sawada (Japan) and,
hopefully, Tim Etchells (U.K.). Negotiations with potential collaborators, including
the Perth Institute for Contemporary Arts, the Sturt Dance Theatre, The Blue Room
and Fremantle Arts Centre are well advanced.
The convenors also said that they would be focussing on Early Career Researchers
and Postgraduates, and intended to reinstate the Plenary E.C.R./Postgrad panel.
A contact email has been set up: ADSA09@ecu.edu.au.
9.4 2010 and beyond . . .
Expressions of interest:
2010 Flinders University “is definitely in the hot seat” (Jonathan Bollen).
Colleagues from the University of Auckland expressed some concern, given their
size, about leaping too quickly into hosting a conference, but will give it some
thought.
10. Postgraduate Report
Joanna Winchester reported that plans to develop a regular postgraduate news and
notices section on the A.D.S.A. website were hampered by the problem of generating
content. She spoke of the general problem of the isolation of postgrads, particularly
due to various restructures which have reduced the coherence of discipline-based
departments.
She also reported that postgraduates had expressed a desire for a larger
performance/performance as research component at subsequent conferences.
11. Publications Report
11.1 Australasian Drama Studies
With characteristically wry understatement, Geoffrey Milne reported that ADS is “still
happening”. The October 2008 issue is nearly ready, and April 2009 is gathering
momentum. Recent conferences have generated an ample sufficiency of strong
papers.
Future feature issues:
October 2009: New Zealand and the Pacific (Jerry Jaffe and Hilary Halba eds)
October 2010: on teaching (Lesley Delmenico and Gaye Poole eds)
October 2011: interculturalism (Wil Petersen and Maryrose Casey eds)
The journal continues to do well financially, both through healthy ADSA membership
and through copyright payments for reproduced material from the back catalogue.
11.2 Performance Paradigm # 4 has just been published, as has About Performance 8.
It was also noted that the most recent issue of Research in Drama Education (13:2,
2008) co-edited by Helen Gilbert included a strong representation by early-career
A.D.S.A. members: Caroline Wake, Rand Hazou and David Williams.
Ian Maxwell reported that Being There: After, the refereed conference proceedings of
the 2006 A.D.S.A. conference have now been published on-line through the
University of Sydney’s e-scholarship repository.
It was also noted that Peta Tait has taken over from Veronica Kelly as Seires Editor of
the ‘Australian Playwright’ series at Rodopi Press.
12. Research Report
12.1 Excellence in Research for Australia (E.R.A.)
The Australian Research Council (A.R.C.) has distributed a draft list of journals with
proposed rankings as part of the E.R.A. initiative. University Research Offices have
been asked to recommend amendments to the lists, although discipline-based bodies
such as A.D.S.A. have not. Nonetheless, A.D.S.A. is developing a response. Veronica
Kelly, Peta Tait, Jules Holledge and Joanne Tompkins have prepared a draft list,
which is to be circulated at the A.G.M. and then posted on the A.D.S.A. website. The
incoming A.D.S.A. president will then co-ordinate a submission to the A.R.C. on
A.D.S.A.’s behalf.
The following motion was put to the meeting:
1. The Australasian Association for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies
deplores the process and time-lines for the establishment of journal
rankings and therefore requests that the deadline for responding to the
draft rankings be extended and expanded to include representations from
peak bodies and disciplinary associations in addition to Universities.
2. We insist that live performances also be included in the purview of any
research quality framework.
3. The Australasian Association for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies
recognises the vital importance of sustaining and encouraging studies of
Australasian culture, and the journals that publish that research.
Moved Adrian Kiernander; seconded Mark Seton.
Passed unanimously.
The motion is to be sent to the managers of the E.R.A. initiative along with
A.D.S.A.’s ranking of journals. (action: Ian Maxwell)
Veronica Kelly suggested that next on the horizon will be a science-driven model to
bump up the value of journals (at the expense of book publications) and a pressranking
exercise on the journal-ranking model.
12.2 Performance as Research
Julie Robson explained that Performance as Research was to be a focus of the 2009
conference in Perth.
Alison Richards stated that the acknowledgement and presence of Performance as
Research at the current conference has been encouraging.
Yana Taylor reiterated that Performance as Research is at risk through the E.R.A.
process.
Adrian Guthrie reported that the U.K. is well-advanced in this area, through the
Palatine CoLab project, and suggested that A.D.S.A. forge a strategic link with that
group.
12.3 AusStage
Jonathan Bollen reported that phase three of the AusStage project has been going
strongly. There will be a meeting on Friday July 4th, immediately following this
conference to plan the next phase.
There will be a meeting of stake-holders in Adelaide in the final week of September.
13. Advocacy
13.1 Jonathan reiterated his comments regarding attempted intervention in university
restructures (see President’s Report, above).
13.2 Sharon Mazer’s profound thanks on behalf of the colleagues at the University of
Canterbury were conveyed to the meeting: their program has been saved.
14. Liaison
It was suggested that the letter to E.R.A. containing the motion above be cc’d to
C.H.A.S.S.
Peta Tait reminded the meeting that A.D.S.A. has a standing panel at the American
Theatre in Higher Education conference should anyone wish to activate it.
15. Any other business
15.1 Glen McGillivray suggested that A.D.S.A. commission a carving or other
artwork for the Arai-te-uru Marae, where conference delegates were welcomed at the
beginning of this conference.
It was decided that Geoffrey Milne and Meredith Rogers liaise with Hilary Halba to
sound out possibilities and costings for such a gift and report back to the Executive.
15.2 Veronica Kelly was asked to leave the room, and it was reported that Gillian
Kehoul is organising a “ C.W.A. (Country Women’s Association)-style” send-off for
Veronica Kelly in Brisbane next summer—around January 17-18th.
15.3 Geoffrey Milne was then asked to leave the room, and Meredith Rogers
suggested that something similar is in train for him.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6.30pm.