You are warmly invited to a half-day academic symposium at Hampton Court Palace on Thursday 6 October 2011.
Entitled 'All the King's Fools', the symposium is part of a funding grant from the Wellcome Trust to explore the history of disability and the tradition of the fool at the Tudor court through a series of public engagement performances by actors with learning disabilities. The symposium is an opportunity to explore some of the research supporting this grant, as well as seeing the performances themselves. The project is the result of a collaboration between Historic Royal Palaces, the University of East Anglia, Foolscap Productions, the Misfits Theatre Company, Oxford Brookes University, and Past Pleasures, and pilot performances were funded by the Arts Council.
Registration will start at 12 noon, and the day will finish by 17.30. In this time, there will be four or five short papers, including by me, Prof. Thomas Betteridge, Christopher Goodey, and Dr Elizabeth Hurren, and a chance to see two performances. Refreshments will be provided. Further details will be supplied to those that wish to attend.
If you able to come, you must RSVP, with your name, affiliation, and the names of anyone who will accompany you, for catering and security reasons, by Friday 23 September.
With best wishes,
