Marginalised theatre practices in Brazil and United Kingdom

Despite distant geographical positions, Brazil and Britain share similarities in how theatre and performance are historically categorised. Cultural and academic attention has privileged Shakespeare and traditional theatre in the UK at risk of undervaluing genres such as street theatre, music hall and musical theatre, fringe and alternative theatre.

Dominant theatre categories in Brazil, established largely under European influence, similarly overlook performance practices and influences intersecting with diasporic postcolonial legacies including indigenous practices, circus, music theatre, and burlettas.

The aim of this cross-Atlantic research project is to identify common gaps, share historiographical methods, and expand current knowledge of previously marginalised performance practices and traditions. Outcomes benefiting students, staff and the general public include a series of lectures and seminars, research meetings and workshops, open-access reports, as well as academic publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Meet the Principal Investigator(s) for the project

Dr Grant Peterson - I joined Brunel in 2013 and co-founded the musical theatre subject strand and degree pathway courses. I have served as Programme Lead, Admissions Tutor and am currently the Associate Dean (Student Experience) for the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences.  I publish scholarship in a range of subjects including British alternative theatre histories, performance and politics, musical theatre, gender and sexuality, pedagogy and student experience, and historical research methodologies. I have reviewed manuscripts for Routledge, Methuen Drama (Bloomsbury), and others. Before academia, I enjoyed two decades of professional experience as a performer in theatre, musical theatre, television, and commercials, having worked in venues across Los Angeles and Southern California. For the West Coast premiere of the one-man show Dalton Trumbo's Johnny Got His Gun in 2003, I received the Backstage Garland Award for Best Actor, and the production was nominated for Best Revival by LA Drama Critics Circle and LA Weekly. My autobiographical one-man show, Canzerous.biz (AKA Performing Cancer) about a cancer diagnosis and the journey through healthcare systems in the UK and US, premiered at England's Bath Fringe Festival in 2012 and was part of university campus performances and invited conference talks. I originally trained at the Orange County School of the Arts and as part of the inaugural cohort of the Ray Bolger Musical Theatre Program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). I briefly wrote theatre reviews in New York briefly and, following a rare stage IV cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatments and side effects, I transitioned my career development primarily towards research and education.  I teach across many of the Brunel Theatre undergraduate modules and am a first supervisor for three PhD postgraduate students. I taught previously as a visiting lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London; Bath Spa University; and University of Winchester. Numerous former students have sought advanced training and education, with many gaining admission to institutions such as the Royal Academy of Music, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Students often embark careers in varioius roles within the creative industries, applied drama, or the educational sector, contributing to the vibrancy of these dynamic fields.

Project last modified 28/11/2023