Building a centre of excellence (Theatre Studies at Warwick 1986 to 2004)

Written by Emeritus Prof. David Thomas

The starting point

In her account of the early history of the Department, Margaret Shewring mentions the threat of funding cuts by the UGC in 1986. As President of the national body representing all Departments of Drama and Theatre in Britain, I drew together a document which set out our importance as a discipline and our achievements. I was very ably assisted in this task by Margaret who was the Secretary of the national body. We persuaded the UGC, on the evidence we presented, to leave unscathed the discipline of Theatre and Drama studies in British universities.

A new approach

Immediately afterwards, I was appointed Professor of Theatre Studies at Warwick. This was one of the departments that had faced possible closure. During the 18 years when I was Head of Department, my colleagues and I built an exceptional department. All teaching was led and inspired by the many different research interests of our staff members, who wrote or edited numerous important studies of Theatre and Performance in many different periods. This was equally true of practical studies.

Research-based practical studies

Directed by Nick Kaye, practical studies were based on post-modern theory and practice and involved the presentation of devised, multi-media pieces in our superbly equipped new studio. (After his stay in Warwick, Nick was appointed Professor of Drama and Performance, first at Manchester, and then Exeter, where he also became Deputy Vice-Chancellor.)

IT-based recreation of historical theatre spaces

An innovative approach to theatre history research was pursued by Richard Beacham. With the help of a dedicated IT technical team, he developed 3D computer models of ancient theatre spaces. The resulting 3D models were a superb teaching resource and an excellent tool for investigative research. (Richard was later appointed professorial founding director of the King’s Visualisation Lab at King’s College, London.)

Activity in the Arts Centre and Theatre in the Community

Other practical presentations based on research led to many small and large-scale performances in the Arts Centre. Finally, classes on Theatre in the Community, once again informed by research, led to a wide range of community-based projects in Coventry.

The Centre for Cultural Policy and Administration

In 1992, the University asked us to incorporate within the Department a Centre for Cultural Policy and Administration led by Oliver Bennett. This greatly enhanced the study choices (notably in Arts marketing) which were available to undergraduate as well as postgraduate students. This unique and exceptional Centre has since grown in size and importance and has acquired its own departmental status as the Centre for Cultural and Media Policy Studies.

Teaching and research in Theatre Studies at Warwick uniquely assessed as outstanding

In 1996, our work (as that of all other departments) was subject to a lengthy and thorough investigation by expert staff from other universities. The aim was to assess the quality of our teaching and research. We emerged from this intensive exercise as the only Department of Theatre and Drama in Britain in which both teaching and research were deemed to be of outstanding quality. In addition, we were listed as the leading Department of Drama and Theatre in various Good University guides published in the press. This naturally meant that Theatre Studies at Warwick would continue to be attractive to the kind of lively and committed students who have always enriched our life and work as an academic community. For all staff and students, the study and practice of theatre and performance involves an enormous amount of serious hard work, combined with considerable real enjoyment