IDIERI, the International Drama in Education Research Institute, is the pre-eminent drama education research conference held triennially in centres of excellence for drama education throughout the world. Previous conferences have been held in Brisbane, Australia (1995), Canada (1997), the USA (2000), England (2003) and Jamaica (2006). In 2009 the event was hosted by the Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Sydney, Australia. Audio files of a number of presentations from the institute are now available to listen to on the Program page of this website.

The theme of IDIERI 6 was “Drama Research Futures: Examining our past, critiquing our present, imagining tomorrow” and it examined the shifting conditions in schools and society generally. The theme begged a discussion of the current state of drama education and applied theatre, and engaged with the future of the field. While speculative in some ways, it sought reflection on the past as a way to examine our research agendas, contexts, methodologies and practices. The conference aimed to provide fresh perspectives on familiar debates and engagement in a critical examination of emerging issues.

“The aim (of the first IDIERI in 1995) was to critique the different modalities of research design, to draw connections between them, and to probe how knowledge can be advanced by their application. The term ‘institute’ was chosen specifically to describe this interaction. An institute connotes a body that produces and promotes educational advancement, a place where ideas can be investigated and new visions proposed. An institute can become a beacon through which emerging understandings happen, where stereotypical notions can be challenged, where new beginnings occur.” (Philip Taylor, Preface to Researching Drama and Arts Education, Falmer Press, 1996)

The University of Sydney and the International Drama in Education Research Institute acknowledge the traditional owners of Country upon whose land the various University campuses now sit: Cadigal peoples of the Eora Nation; Deerubbin peoples; Tharawal peoples; Ngunnawal peoples; Wiradjuri peoples; Gamilaroi peoples; Bundjulung peoples; Wiljali peoples and the Gureng Gureng peoples. The University recognises, values and respects continuing Indigenous customary laws, beliefs and traditions, and the close and enduring relationship between the first peoples and their land, seas and rivers. The University is committed to the protection and support of Indigenous Australian cultural heritage and to educating the University community about the continuing importance of this unique heritage of the lives of Australian Indigenous peoples today.