May 16, 2013, by Peter Kirwan

Provincial Shakespeare Performance – PhD opportunity at Nottingham

‘Provincial Shakespeare Performance’ fully funded PhD studentship, University of Nottingham/British Library – closing date 7 June 2013

The University of Nottingham School of English and The British Library

AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership, ‘Provincial Shakespeare Performance’

The British Library and the School of English at the University of Nottingham are seeking to award one fully funded PhD studentship to commence 1 October 2013, supervised by Dr Peter Kirwan and Dr Jo Robinson (University of Nottingham), and Tanya Kirk and Tim Pye (British Library).

The British Library is planning a major Shakespeare exhibition for 2016, marking 400 years since Shakespeare’s death. The exhibition will focus on the subject of Shakespeare in performance, across all time periods and all locations, and on the impact that the plays have on wider culture. Provincial performances of Shakespeare (i.e. non-London) and their reception have not yet been extensively studied, and this collaborative doctoral studentship will enable the successful student to undertake a sustained exploration of such provincial performances and to make a substantial contribution to the process of research for a major British Library exhibition.

The student will be based for part of the time in Nottingham, and part of the time at the British Library. We anticipate that the project – to be developed in conversation with the British Library and with the successful student – will combine theories of Shakespeare’s cultural status in performative appropriation and archival study of the detail of historical performances. We encourage a potential focus on the East Midlands and its relationship to London, drawing on the School’s familiarity with local archives and existing collaborative relationships with regional theatre partners. The successful student will however have the opportunity to shape the eventual project, with the proviso that they will be encouraged to utilise key British Library collections in this area which are currently underused, for example the Library’s vast collections of playbills; the Burney theatrical collection; and the Lord Chamberlain’s Plays.

The studentship, which will support three years of full-time study, is funded through the AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Scheme, and the AHRC will contribute an extra £550 pa on top of the standard stipend (£13,726 for 2013/14), while the British Library will contribute up to £1000 pa to cover travel and related costs.

Applicants should have at least a 2.1 honours degree in a relevant subject and have completed or be about to complete an appropriate Masters level qualification – or be able to demonstrate equivalent preparedness for doctoral-level research.

For more detailed particulars please view the further particulars on our website. Closing date for applications is Friday 7 June 2013. Prospective candidates may direct informal enquiries to Peter.Kirwan@nottingham.ac.uk or Jo.Robinson@nottingham.ac.uk .

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