Theatre embraces an expanding research environment which advances a transdisciplinary vision connecting artistic performance, dance, spoken, physical and musical theatre, playwriting, digital art, and performance design, along with critical cultural performance and postcolonial studies. The subject brings together research interests of our staff in order to investigate the processes at the frontiers of the theatrical arts and performance technologies. Our activities centre on the integration of creative arts, performance writing, directing, choreography and performance design with digital technologies. We look at diverse modes of enactment, dramatic and choreographic expression, physical culture, digital creativity and cultural interaction, and social, political and historical forces shaping theatrical practices. Research opportunities for students Research students are welcomed to Brunel as valued members of our thriving, research-intensive community. Browse PhD opportunities below and find out about the funding available for students. Doctoral research information How to apply for a PhD View list of PhDs in this area Research in Theatre Find people, projects, groups and publications in Theatre and read more about related research to this area. Meet our experts Research Seminar Series Interdisciplinary performance research laboratories and lectures. Theatre Research Archive Browse our collection of research outputs including PhD theses Independent assessment of our research quality (REF 2021) View REF 2021 details for Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies (UoA 33) Putting working class actors centre stage REF 2021 Research centres and groups Arts Health and Social Change This Research Group is dedicated to fostering art-based initiatives that drive social change towards inclusivity and equality in healthcare. Comedy Studies As an interdisciplinary centre it considers the production, content, reception and wider socio-political implications of comedy in a variety of formats and from a range of perspectives. DAP-Lab A cross-media lab exploring convergences between performance, telematics, textile/fashion design and movement, clothing and choreography, visual expression, film/photography, and interactive design. Human Geography Aims to develop and consolidate interdisciplinary research around space, place and society at Brunel. We provide a forum for engagement with geographical research, for sharing and receiving feedback on writing and developing new collaborations nationally and internationally. Institute of Communities and Society The Institute focuses on the social, community, and cultural aspects of pressing contemporary issues including migration and movement, social unrest, intersectional inequalities, and institutionalised poverty. Performance and Ephemeral Sustainabilities in Public Space Cultural politics of performance; Socially-engaged theatre; Site-specific and urban performance; Digital and intermedial performance; Performer training; Writing for performance and audio-visual composition. Performance, Cultures and Politics An open interactive laboratory for exploratory research in the time-based arts of theatre, performance and performance media. Courses Comedy Studies PhD Music PhD Theatre PhD View all courses Fully-funded studentships Our funded studentships become available at different times of the year. Please keep checking our page regularly to see the latest funded opportunities. We also advertise all our funded studentships as soon as they become available on the @BrunelResearch twitter account. View all studentships