Different Stages

Exploring public engagement for Drama and Theatre early career academics

‘Different Stages: Exploring public engagement for Drama and Theatre early career academics’ is a project run by Dr Naomi Paxton and funded by a British Academy Rising Star Engagement Award.

The project is designed for Drama and Theatre PhD students and Early Career Researchers (ECR) to:

• Discuss the role of public engagement and knowledge exchange within the discipline
• Identify key areas in which advocacy for research in Drama and Theatre might be used to influence policy
• Learn skills so they can take the lead in creating opportunities for interdisciplinary and creative collaboration both within their institutions and as independent researchers.

The project consists of five workshops and performance events around different themes and in different cities – Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol, Birmingham and London.

See videos from the showcase presentations.

Project events

Workshop in Birmingham

This event took place on March 3 2020 at the Birmingham and Midland Institute and was free to attend for any PhD student or ECR researching Drama and Theatre, or including drama and theatre practices within their interdisciplinary research.

The themes of the workshop were interpretation and the canon, and the role of media in disseminating and reframing research. Guest speakers were Dr Victoria McGuinness (Head of Research Partnerships, TORCH, University of Oxford), and Dr Claire Warden (Senior Lecturer in English and Drama, Loughborough University).

Birmingham Showcase

The Birmingham showcase took place on March 3 2020 at the Birmingham and Midland Institute. The presenters were: Sudip Chakroborthy (Goldsmiths College, University of London), Angharad Jones (Fifth Word Theatre), Peter Wynne-Willson (Birmingham School of Acting), Janice Connolly (Artistic Director of Women & Theatre), Peter Barratt (creator of Alicesuffragette.co.uk ), and Dr Claire Warden (Loughborough University).

See videos of some of the showcase presentations from the Birmingham event.

Workshop in Glasgow

This event took place on 16 January 2020 at Glasgow Women’s Library and was free to attend for any PhD student or ECR researching Drama and Theatre, or including drama and theatre practices within their interdisciplinary research.

The themes of the workshop were arts and the city, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Guest speakers were Dr Mhairi Stewart (Head of Public Engagement with Research, University of St Andrews), Jean Cameron (Project Director for Paisley City of Culture 2021, Board member for National Theatre of Scotland), and Susan Morrison (comedian, broadcaster, and curator of the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas).

Glasgow Showcase

The Glasgow showcase took place on 16 January 2020 at Glasgow Women’s Library. The presenters were: Dr Cristina Delgado-Garcia (University of Glasgow), Katie Hart (University of Glasgow) Dr Beverley Hood (Edinburgh College of Art), Dr Nicky Imrie (Scotland’s Urban Past, Historic Environment Scotland/HES) and Susan Morrison (comedian, broadcaster, and curator of Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas).

See videos of some of the showcase presentations from the Glasgow event.

Workshop in London

This event took place on 20 November 2019 at The Actors’ Temple in London and was free to attend for any PhD student or ECR researching Drama and Theatre, or including drama and theatre practices within their interdisciplinary research.

The themes of the workshop were arts and advocacy, and theatre and medicine. Guest speakers were  Dr Sylvan Baker (Lecturer in Community Performance and Applied Theatre, CSSD; Education and Creative Learning associate, RSA; Artistic Fellow at QMUL) and Dr Brian Lobel (Knowledge Exchange Fellow, CSSD; Co-founder of The Sick of the Fringe.

London Showcase

The London showcase took place on November 20 2019 at the Museum of Comedy in London and as part of the 2019 Being Human Festival. The presenters were Joe Parslow (RCSSD), Laura Cordery (RADA), Dr Farokh Soltani (RCSSD), Sarah Davey-Hull (RCSSD), Professor David Harradine (RCSSD), Cathy Sloan (RCSSD), and Dr Nicola Abraham (RCSSD).

See videos of some of the showcase presentations from the London event.

Workshop in Bristol

This event took place on 25 July 2019 at Windmill Hill City Farm in Bristol and was free to attend for any PhD student or ECR researching Drama and Theatre, or including drama and theatre practices within their interdisciplinary research.

The themes of the workshop were LGBT+ and Queer histories, community engagement, and audiences and cultural participation. Guest speakers were Dr Kirsty Sedgman (Lecturer in Theatre and British Academy Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Bristol), Dr Jana Funke (Senior Lecturer in Medical Humanities, Department of English and Film, University of Exeter) and Dr Catherine Hindson (Reader in Theatre History, University of Bristol).

Bristol Showcase

The Bristol Showcase took place on 25 July 2019 at Windmill Hill City Farm in Bristol. The presenters were Dr Kirsty Sedgman (University of Bristol), Dr Melissa Atkinson (University of Bath), Dr Helen Featherstone (University of Bath), Dr Leon Watts (University of Bath), Dr Kate Holmes (University of Exeter), Denis Cryer-Lennon (University of South Wales), and folk singer Louise Jordan.

See videos of some of the showcase presentations from the Bristol event.

Workshop in Manchester

This event took place on 19 June 2019 at The Edge Theatre and Arts Centre in Chorlton, Manchester and was free to attend for any PhD student or ECR researching Drama and Theatre, or including drama and theatre practices within their interdisciplinary research.

The themes of the workshop were museums and heritage, interdisciplinary collaboration within the academy, and documenting contemporary performance. Guest speakers were Amy Ryall (External Engagement Projects Manager, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Sheffield) and Dr Kate Dorney (Senior Lecturer in Drama, University of Manchester).