November 14 - 20, 2003
Manila Philippines

The Women Playwrights International Conference, a very important gathering of some 200 to 400 playwrights from all over the world, has been held every three years since 1988.  It was held in Buffalo, New York; Toronto, Canada; Adelaide, Australia; Galway, Ireland; and Athens, Greece.  For the first time, it was held in Asia.

The following were the goals of The 6^th Women Playwrights International Conference:

• Seek answers and solutions to the artistic, professional, social and political concerns, issues, and queries that confront women playwrights and theater artists from around the world;

• Create and provide multiple forums where women theater artists can share work methodologies, texts, perspectives and ideologies;

• Promote the creation of strong, sustainable, national and international information and touring networks for women theater artists;

• Disseminate in the Philippines, the work of Filipino and international women artists and promote Filipino women artists’ work outside the Philippines.

 Theme: WOMEN MAKING THEATER IN A CHANGING WORLD

Subthemes for Drama Sessions

1.                  WRITING OR MAKING THEATER IN A PERIOD OF WAR AND POLITICAL TURMOIL

2.                   SHIFTING BORDERS AND BOUNDARIES

3.                   GENDER AND SEXUALITY

4.                   LOSS AND LEGACY

5.                   RACISM AND JUSTICE

6.                   SPIRITUALITY AND TRADITION

There were five simultaneous venues for Drama Sessions.  15 plays (excerpts) were presented and discussed each day with the playwrights / theater artists; a total of 60 plays in four days.  Senior WPI members were country curators (who located, shortlisted / chose country delegates with WPI Mancom / WPI Philippines); gave overview and facilitated the open forum with the playwrights / theater artists.

CONFERENCE REPORT



SPONSORING AGENCIES

Cultural Center of the Philippines
Japan Foundation Manila Office
Asian Cultural Council Philippines Foundation, Inc.
National Commission for Culture and the Arts

in cooperation with

International Theatre Institute, Philippines
Australia Council for the Arts
Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center, DLSU

THE VENUE

Traders Hotel Manila

PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES

ARTICLES

The 6th WPIC in Asia for the First Time
The Asian Participation to the 6th WPIC
Women, Culture and Globalization: Images, Issues and Challenges