Theatre and Performance Studies News
TOP STORY: TaPRA 2025 Conference to be hosted at Warwick
We're delighted to announce that the annual Theatre and Performance Research Association (TaPRA) conference will be hosted by Theatre and Performance Studies at Warwick between 27 and 29 August 2025. The conference will mark both the 20th birthday of TaPRA and the 50th anniversary of Theatre and Performance Studies at Warwick. Our conference keynotes, plenary panels, artistic activity, conference dinner and programmed events will speak to the themes of milestones and markers, focussing on celebrations, festivities, spectacle and joy. We'll look forward to welcoming you to Warwick next year!
To keep up to date with the conference plans, please visit our dedicated TaPRA pages here.
A Window on Applied and Socially Engaged Performance at Warwick – 24th February 5-6pm.
Join us online to find out more about the projects and research we are leading, the kinds of applied and socially engaged work that takes place at Warwick, and the communities we are connected to. We will explore what it means to be involved in social action through theatre and performance today, and what challenges and possibilities we are presented with.
We will begin the event by hearing from a panel of practitioners and academics at Warwick. They will share examples of their recent practice and research. We will then open up for a discussion relating to applied and socially-engaged performance.You will also be able to ask further questions you may have concerning the MA Applied Theatre: Arts, Action, Change.
The panel will include:
Max Dean, a PhD researcher at Warwick and Director at C&T, one of the Associate Companies for the MA. C&T combines applied theatre methodologies with digital technologies to explore and grow creativity with children and adults.
Saul Hewish, one of the country's leading practitioners in the use of drama and theatre with offenders. In 1999 he co-founded RideOut (Creative Arts for Rehabilitation), which develops innovative and experimental arts-based projects within the criminal justice system.
Professor Nadine Holdsworth, whose research spans questions of representation, participation, citizenship, political change and cultural value. She explores how theatre, performance and arts-based methodologies can be used to illuminate pressing social issues and marginalised groups.
Dr Yvette Hutchison, a South African academic whose work focuses on Anglophone African theatre, dance and intercultural performance. She has taught on and worked in various theatre for development and community theatre projects in Africa and the UK.
The session will be chaired by Dr Bobby Smith, a researcher and practitioner whose current work focuses on applied theatre and global development.
Confirm your attendance here https://your.warwick.ac.uk/form/spotlightontheatre
Alumnus Tom Fowler has had his work featured in the Royal Court's #LivingNewspaper Edition 2
The Royal Court's #LivingNewspaper Edition 2, includes playwright Tom Fowler, who did his BA in Theatre and Performance Studies at Warwick. Find out more here: https://royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/livingnewspaperedition2/
Student Olivia Kershaw Sings at Prestigious Musical Theatre Event
Last week Olivia Kershaw was selected to sing as part of the following event:
SING FOR MENTAL HEALTH: Starring Emma Hatton, Aisha Jawando and Rebecca Trehearn
A night of Musical Theatre to raise money for charity, headlined by West End leading ladies, Emma Hatton, Aisha Jawando and Rebecca Trehearn and featuring New UK Musical Theatre writing and emerging talent! This concert will raise funds for Applause for Thought and Industry Minds to offer mental health support in our industry. Please give what you can: https://donorbox.org/sing-for-mental-health-raising-funds-for-industry-minds-and-applause-for-thought
Streaming live on December 16th. Curtain up at 7.45pm!
The show also features music by new UK Musical Theatre writers, Darren James Clark, Tim Sutton, Eamonn O’Dwyer, Amir Shoenfeld, Gus Gowling, Emily Rose Simons, Poppy Burton-Morgan, Caroline Wigmore and Jennifer Green
Plus, emerging talent selected from our competition held by The Sing Space:
selected by the writers… Lizzy Parker, Madeleine MacMahon, Bridgette Amofah, Joanna Clarke, Rebecca Scott and Ros Ford
selected by casting director, Debbie O'Brien…. Bethany Bartholomeusz and Olivia Chloe Kershaw
PhD candidate Sky Herington wins the prestigious TaPRA Postgraduate Essay Prize
In December 2020, it was announced that Sky Herington has won the Theatre and Performance Research Association's prestigious Postgraduate Essay Prize. Sky's essay is called 'Grotesque Bodies & Subversive Healing: The Politics of the Belly in Two Plays by Sony Labou Tansi'.