Creative theatre leaders and prominent academics were brought together by De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) and Curve theatre today, to explore the relationship between theatre and higher education.
Rob Brannen, Suba Das (Associate Director, Curve), Jacqui O’Hanlon and Barbara Matthews
Following the success of DMU and Curve’s inaugural conference last year, this year focussed on how stronger partnerships between the sectors can tackle issues of diversity, employability, research and job-creation.
Building on last year’s conversations, the discussion involved theatre practitioners, programmers, producers, technicians, policy-makers, academics, students and audiences.
Barbara Matthews, DMU Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Arts, Design and Humanities, said: “I worked in the theatre industry for many years before joining De Montfort University and would have loved the chance to attend such a conference then!
“Now I have an insight into both worlds I know that there are many inspirational and imaginative collaborations, but there is still much that we can learn from each other.
“We can be divided by unintended bureaucratic hurdles and differing vocabularies, so I very much hope that we’ll find a way to cast those aside and continue to discover new ways of working together.”
Jacqui O’Hanlon
After an opening address by Jacqui O’Hanlon, Director of Education at the Royal Shakespeare Company, attendees explored key themes across four different groups.
Chaired by Charlotte Jones, Chief Executive of the Independent Theatre Council, and DMU’s Barbara Matthews, the first group looked at how theatres and higher education institutions can overcome challenges to work together.
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The second group, chaired by Professor David Thacker from Bolton University and Octagon Theatre and Kate Chapman a Lecturer in Drama at DMU, discussed the student experience of professional theatre.
Theatre’s role in teaching and the ways in which universities can lend their learning expertise was explored by a group chaired by Rob Brannen, Head of DMU’s School of Visual and Performing Arts.
Chris Stafford
The final group, chaired by Eleonora Belfiore, Professor of Communication and Media at Loughborough University, and Dr Claire Warden from DMU’s School of Visual and Performing Arts looked into existing research and future opportunities.
Chris Stafford, Chief Executive at Curve said: “We are pleased to be able host The Higher Education and Professional Theatre Conference alongside De Montfort University for our second year. In uncertain times for the arts, it is more important than ever for theatres to build stronger relationships with our partners in the education sector, share our skills and resources and develop new strategies.
“As industry leaders in the promotion of diversity, we are passionately committed to pioneering inclusive and thriving theatre in The UK. These events and conversations are absolutely key for that success.”
Posted on Thursday 15 September 2016