The conference 'West End and Friedrichstraße. Cross-cultural Exchange in Popular Musical Theatre, 1890-1939' aims to bring together scholars from a variety of fields working on the popular musical stage of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. It is especially interested in instances and processes of cultural exchange in musical theatre between London, Berlin and other European and non-European cities.

Operetta, musical comedy and revue were the most popular form of theatre in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Yet, with rare exceptions they are almost absent from histories of the theatre as well as of popular culture. Popular musical theatre was a key constituent of everyday culture. It engaged in complex ways with ideas about the modern world, registering and shaping contemporary attitudes to class, gender and national identities. At the same time it was itself distinctively modern, utilizing new forms of technology, distribution and marketing and drawing on transnational networks of exchange. Successful musicals and operettas travelled widely and were adapted throughout the European and non-European world. Many were made into films.

Taking its examples from popular musical genres like operetta, musical and revue, the conference will engage these and related topics:
- representation of gender, class, race or national identity on the popular stage;
- networks and mechanics of transnational exchange;
- problems of translation and adaptation;
- international cooperation (or frictions);
- travelling performers, managers, genres and plays.

Although focussing on the theatrical exchange between European cities like London, Berlin, Paris and Vienna, the conference is also interested in transatlantic contacts as well as the perception and influence of metropolitan theatre in the non-European world, for example, the British Empire.

We invite scholars (including early career researchers) working in a variety of disciplines – including but not limited to history, literature, musicology, theatre and cultural studies – to submit research proposals for 30 minute papers. The conference language is English. Presenters will be given accommodation and a travel stipend. Selected conference presenters will be invited to publish their work in an edited scholarly volume of essays.

The conference is organized by the interdisciplinary research project 'West End and Friedrichstraße. A comparative study of popular theatre in London and Berlin, 1890-1939', hosted by Freie Universität Berlin and Goldsmiths College, University of London and funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the Arts and Humanities Research Council. The conference will take place at Freie Universität Berlin from 29 to 30 March 2012.

For full consideration, please submit a 200-word abstract and a short c.v. to westendfriedrichstrasse@geschkult.fu-berlin.de by October 31, 2011.