The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 26.137 Wednesday, 18 March 2015
From: Hardy Cook <
Date: March 18, 2015 at 11:23:23 AM EDT
Subject: AHRC-Funded Collaborative Doctoral Award
AHRC-Funded Collaborative Doctoral Award
University of Birmingham
Qualification type: Professional Doctorate
Location: Birmingham
Funding for: UK Students, EU Students, International Students
Funding amount: Not specified
Hours: Full Time
Placed on: 11th March 2015
Closes: 17th April 2015
Applications are invited for an AHRC-funded collaborative doctoral award, to run from October 2015 to October 2018, on the Royal Shakespeare Company’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Play for the Nation.’
In 2016, as part of its celebrations of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) will mount a nationwide tour of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in which a different set of local amateur actors will impersonate the play’s ‘rude mechanicals’ at every venue it visits. This ambitious and high-profile event, called ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Play for the Nation’ (see http://www.rsc.org.uk/…/a-midsummer-nights-dream-a-play-for…), arises from the ‘Open Stages’ outreach project, launched in 2011, during which amateur companies performing Shakespeare all around the United Kingdom have been contacted, assisted and showcased by the RSC. The Shakespeare Institute of the University of Birmingham and the RSC propose to embed a doctoral student with ‘A Play for the Nation’ to research this rich and complex artistic and social event. Granted access to planning meetings, rehearsals, documentation and performances, the student will study the methods and processes of the RSC and its amateur partners and produce a PhD thesis about their interactions: at the same time the student will be trained in academic theatre history and cultural studies by the university.
‘A Play for the Nation,’ as well as being a landmark in theatre history, will be a test-case in cultural policy, and it demands investigation and analysis as both. Over the three years of the studentship, the doctoral research produced by this student will contribute to a fuller understanding of the place of Shakespeare in the workings of national and local communities.
The student will be co-supervised by Professor Michael Dobson, Director of the Shakespeare Institute, and by Erica Whyman, Deputy Artistic Director of the RSC and director of ‘A Play for the Nation.’ The successful candidate will be expected to have training in a relevant discipline (preferably theatre studies), a serious and informed interest in arts policy, and a deep familiarity with A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A Masters degree is desirable.
Candidates should submit an application for study via the UoB on-line system: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/sch…/calgs/howtoapply/index.aspx
before 12 noon GMT on Friday, 17th April 2015. Applicants MUST also apply directly to Professor Dobson at:
AHRC funding provides fees and maintenance for UK students. A bursary may be available for a successful EU or International applicant.
The University Code of Practice on Admission of Students can be found at http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/…/policies-…/codes-practice.aspx.
Informal enquiries: Professor Michael Dobson (
http://www.rsc.org.uk/explore/projects/a-midsummer-nights-dream-a-play-for-the-nation.aspx
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Play for the Nation
To mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death in 2016 we will partner with theatres, schools and amateur theatre groups across the UK for a national tour of A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream.
The play contains probably theatre’s most famous amateur company, the Mechanicals, with some of Shakespeare’s best-loved characters, such as Bottom, the group’s enthusiastic leading man, and long-suffering director Peter Quince.
We will work with a local amateur theatre company in each city or town the production visits. From each amateur company six actors (and a director) will play the roles of the Mechanicals when the play is performed in their city or town. They will also be invited to perform at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon at the end of the tour.
The fairy train will be played by local school children in each area, from partner schools in our Learning and Performance Network or local school communities.
The production will be directed by our Deputy Artistic Director Erica Whyman, and produced in partnership with our 12 Partner Theatres:
- Northern Stage, Newcastle
- Theatre Royal, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
- Hall for Cornwall, Truro
- The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
- The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
- The Grand Theatre, Blackpool
- Lyric Theatre, Belfast
- The Grand Opera House, Belfast
- New Theatre, Cardiff
- Norwich Theatre Royal
- Theatre Royal Nottingham
- Citizens Theatre, Glasgow
- Barbican, London
Find out about:
A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Play for the Nation is a co-production between the Royal Shakespeare Company and amateur theatre companies. This is an arrangement between the RSC and Equity.
The Learning and Performance Network is generously supported by THE PAUL HAMLYN FOUNDATION
Open Stages is generously supported by ESMÉE FAIRBAIRN FOUNDATION