Research and Development in UK Theatre: Research and Development in Contemporary British Theatre

This is the first book to explore the rich range of research and development (R&D) practices in contemporary British theatremaking. Featuring chapters by internationally recognised researchers, as well as interviews with innovative theatremakers, this book analyses the work of some of the most exciting theatre companies in Britain. This collection draws on conversations with Selina Thompson, Rosie Elnile, Third Angel and many others, offering hints and tips for your own creative practice. The book argues passionately for the funding of R&D, recognising its enormous significance to British theatre-making processes.

Tom Cantrell is Reader in Theatre and Associate Dean for Learning, Teaching and Students in the Arts and Humanities Faculty at the University of York, UK. His research explores performance and, in particular, acting processes. He has published four books on acting: Acting in British Television (Palgrave, 2017) and Exploring Television Acting (Bloomsbury, 2018), both with Christopher Hogg. He co-edited Playing for Real with Mary Luckhurst (Palgrave, 2010), and wrote Acting in Documentary Theatre (Palgrave, 2013).

Katherine Graham is Lecturer in Theatre at the University of York, UK. Her research explores the agency of light and other scenographic materials in performance. She has published work about light in Contemporary Theatre Review, Studies in Theatre and Performance and Theatre and Performance Design. She is the lead editor of the forthcoming Contemporary Performance Lighting (Bloomsbury, 2021) and a co-convenor of TaPRA’s scenography working group. She has also worked extensively as a designer for theatre and dance in the UK and Ireland.

Karen Quigley is Senior Lecturer in Theatre at the University of York, UK. Her research explores moments of unstageability and impossibility in contemporary theatre and performance, particularly in terms of the creative relationship between text and performance. Her first monograph, Performing the Unstageable: Success, Imagination, Failure, was published by Bloomsbury in February 2020.

Mark Smith is Lecturer in Theatre at the University of York, UK. His research examines production and directorial processes across a range of contexts, with a particular interest in intersections between physicality and text. He has co-authored a manuscript on Frantic Assembly with Professor Mark Evans (Routledge) and has also published work about Forced Entertainment’s durational and marginal performances.