Refocus: The Films of Ken Russell (Edinburgh University Press)

Book Launch / Symposium (Call for Papers)

July 6th  2023, Kingston University Town House

The past few years have a seen a renaissance of critical interest in the work of British film and television director Ken Russell. Beside a major conference held at Kingston University in 2017 about Russell, there have been several PhD studies and numerous publications dealing with aspects of his film and television work.

To commemorate the publication of 'The Films of Ken Russell' as part of Edinburgh University Press’s ReFocus: International Director’s Series earlier this year, Kingston University will be hosting its second event about Ken Russell on 6th July 2023: a one-day symposium about Russell’s work and his collaborative relationships. The symposium will culminate in the evening with the book launch for ReFocus: The Films of Ken Russell.  

ReFocus: The Films of Ken Russell considered both Ken Russell’s legacy and emphasised his collaborative practices and relationships. Therefore, we are inviting papers which deal with all aspects of Russell’s work, and especially his working relationships

We are especially inviting papers which deal Russell’s collaborations with the actor Murray Melvin – who passed away on 14th April 2023. Melvin emerged out of Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop, finding fame as the role Geoffrey in Shelagh Delaney’s A Taste of Honey, and was a stalwart of Russell’s informal repertory company between The Diary of a Nobody in 1964 and Prisoner of Honor in 1991.  In later years, Melvin advocated for the legacies of both Joan Littlewood and the Theatre Workshop, and Ken Russell.  He was a major part of the Ken Russell conference held at Kingston University in 2017 and this event aims to bring the importance of his work with Russell into focus.

We are inviting abstracts which deal with but are not limited to the following:

Russell’s collaborative relationships
Russel’s contemporary legacy in film and television
Russell’s work at the BBC and relationship with Huw Wheldon
Russell’s later work at ITV and relationship with Melvyn Bragg
Russell’s composer and artist biopics
Russell’s and his actors
Russell and the critics
Russell’s work in the US during the 1980s
Russell’s Amateur filmmaking and ‘Garagiste’ films
Set design, space and architecture in Russell’s work
The Devils at 52
Russell’s unmade films
Russell as a cult film director
Russell in the archive

I appreciate that this is a tight turnaround but if you could please return Abstracts to me before the end of May at [log in to unmask]

with thanks 

Matt Melia

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