Ben is completing a PhD at the University of Warwick, in the department of English and Comparative Literary Studies. His dissertation examines the work of theatre directors Katie Mitchell and Thomas Ostermeier, particularly the status of text (classic, Naturalistic, new writing, novels, and philosophical essays) in their productions, and how that intertwines with contemporary discourses in the German and British theatre ecologies. He also seeks to document and analyse the growing network of professional relationships between theatre practitioners in Germany and the UK, tracing the implications of this network in terms of cutting edge aesthetic developments throughout Europe. Ben makes frequent research visits to Berlin, and observed Katie Mitchell's rehearsals at the Schaübuhne on Die Gelbe Tapette in Jan/Feb 2013.

Academic Interests:

• Acting & Directing, their practice and theorisation, particularly in contemporary Europe.
• The historical avant-garde and Modernism in the theatre, in relationship with contemporary theatrical experimentation.
• Theories of Spectatorship
• New Media/Intermediality in the theatre
• The inter-relationship between critical theory and theatre practice.
• Theatrical criticism (journalism, blogs, academic) and performance documentation.

Teaching

2012-2014: Tutor and Lecturer on EN302 European Theatre, University of Warwick

2010: Tutor on EN107 British Theatre since 1939 and EN302 European Theatre, University of Warwick

2013: Brillaint Club Tutor

Conferences

"Creating Continuity out of Fragmentation: Movie Montage in Theatrical Spaces", International Federation of Theatre Research, University of Warwick, July 2014

"Breaking through (artistic) borders: Intermediality as Theatre's Modernism", British Association for Modernist Studies Annaul Conference: Modernism Now!, Senate House, London, June 2014

"'Draining the English Channel': Visions of a British European Theatre", Simon Stephens Symposium, University of Sussex, April 2014

"A Synaesthesia of Eye and Ear: Thomas Ostermeier's Schaubühne Shakespeare", Shakespeare and the Senses at the SAA annual conference, St Louis, April 2014

"Katie Mitchell's Multimedia Theatre: Remixing the 'Dramatic'", Debating Postdramatic Theatre at the ASTR Conference, Dallas, November 2013

November 2012: Co-organising Bond@50: The Work of Edward Bond, a one day symposium with Prof. Tony Howard.

Publications

Review of "Postdranatic Theatre and the Political", New Theatre Quarterly, forthcoming late 2014.

"Culture Clash: What The Wooster Group revealed about the RSC (and British theatre hegemony) in Troilus & Cressida", Shakespeare Bulletin, Summer 2014.

"Thomas Ostermeier's Hamlet in London", Shakespeare Bulletin (31:4), Autumn 2013.

Education

2011-2014: PhD at University of Warwick, supervised by Prof. Tony Howard.

2007-09: MFA (distinction) in Theatre Directing (Birkbeck College, University of London)

2004-07: BA Hons (First) in English and Theatre Studies, focusing on Shakespeare in year 3, with a dissertation on Cymbeline in Performance (Kneehigh & Cheek by Jowl) supervised by Prof. Carol Rutter.

Awards

2011-14: AHRC doctoral research scholarship.

2013-14: Conference Travel Grants from the Shakespeare Association of America and the Humanities Research Fund, Warwick University.

2007-09: AHRC practice based research scholoarship.

2007: Undergraduate Research Scholarship Scheme award holder (working on Joan Littlewood/Theatre Workshop with Dr. Nadine Holdsworth).

In addition, a part time career as director/assistant director/acting teacher gives me huge insight into my academic research, and many links to industry professionals. I've worked at the RSC with Greg Doran and Anthony Neilson, the Royal Exchange, Manchester, with Sarah Frankcom, Matthew Dunster and Greg Hersov, and the Almeida Theatre with Peter DuBois. I've also worked with a Japanese cast on Shakespeare in Tokyo and Osaka, through a production of Romeo and Juliet, and worked on opera with Jonathan Munby for Opera Holland Park.
As part of this strand of my career, I've delivered five years worth of workshops - particularly on Shakespeare for the National Youth Theatre and Shakespeare Schools Festival, as well as education workshops alongside particular projects. I've taught acting for Drama Centre London and in Japan.
Other experience includes director training workshops with Daniel Kramer, Katie Mitchell, Ian Rickson, Declan Donellan, and Mike Leigh.

Benjamin Fowler

Benjamin dot B dot Fowler at warwick dot ac dot uk