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Dr Grant Peterson
Associate Dean - Student Experience/Senior Lecturer in Theatre

Gaskell Building 112

Summary

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.

Qualifications

PhD in Drama and Theatre (Royal Holloway, University of London)

MA in Critical Studies in Theatre (University of California, Los Angeles)

BA in Theatre with Musical Theatre emphasis (University of California, Los Angeles)

Fellow in the Higher Education Academy

Mental Health First Aider - England

Responsibility

Associate Dean (Student Experience) for the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences

External Examiner for the MA in Drama at the University of South Wales

External Examiner for the BA in Musical Theatre, The Brighton Academy, accredited by Bath Spa University

Newest selected publications

Peterson, G. (2020) 'Cruzamentos, Rotatórias e Pontes: Fazendo conexões históricas entre práticas de teatro de rua / Intersections, Roundabouts and Bridges: Linking Historical Outdoor Theatre Practices'. Edições Letra e Ato / Letter and Act Editions, 2. pp. 26 - 32.Open Access Link

Journal article

Peterson, GT. (2018) '‘A Revolutionary Proposal’: Alexander Trocchi, Dramaturgies of Disruption and Situationist Genealogies', in McLoughlin, K. (ed.) British Literature in Transition, 1960–1980: Flower Power. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press. , 2. pp. 65 - 80. ISBN 10: 1107129575. ISBN 13: 978-1107129573. Open Access Link

Book chapter

Peterson, G. (2017) ''Transparently Present' in 'Civic Violence: Grappling with Life in the UK''. Contemporary Theatre Review Interventions, 27 (4). ISSN: 1026-7166 Open Access Link

Journal article

Peterson, GT. (2016) 'The People Show', in Bull, J. (ed.) British Theatre Companies: 1968-1979. London : Bloomsbury. , 1. pp. 147 - 170. ISBN 10: 1408175444. ISBN 13: 9781408175446. Open Access Link

Book chapter

Peterson, GT. and Chow. (2016) 'Essai (French: ‘test’, ‘attempt’, ‘trial’, ‘tryout’): Democratising Singing: Teaching Musical Theatre to a Mixed-Ability Higher Education Student Cohort'. Theatre, Dance and Performance Training, 7 (1). pp. 114 - 116. ISSN: 1944-3927 Open Access Link

Journal article
More publications(15)
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