Sent on behalf of Professor Simon Shepherd, Professor of Theatre at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London

In many countries on particular dates in the calendar special events happen.  These events might be Easter processions, May Day dances, Midsummer festivities.  The events can also include sword fights or walking on coals.  I call these events 'calendrical performances'.
 
While particular performances have been well researched (Spain, northern Greece, Croatia or Sardinia), as far as I am aware there has been little attempt to make comparison across societies.  This comparison would not only analyse the formal elements of the performance (what takes place, how it looks).  It would also compare how performances are preserved and taught across generations, what sort of community network they rely on and express, how they are archived (if at all), how funded and resourced, what their relationship is with regional or national authorities, what part they play within the tourist economy and how far that economy has impacted on communities and their performances.
 
The aim is to develop a pilot study focussed on three different societies, developing protocols for addressing the issues raised above and an academic infrastructure to explore them, and formulating initial findings.  

I would be interested to hear from anyone who would like to join a research project of this sort.