Ian Walsh

Ian R. Walsh was appointed to Lecturer in Drama andTheatre Studies at NUI Galway in September 2014. He previously worked as a Lecturer in Dramaat University College Dublin from 2010and was Doctoral Scholar at the Drama Studies Centre, UCD in 2006. Ian has also worked professionally as a theatre director, actor, reviewer and arts adminsitrator.Academic Biography:Ian was awarded a PhD from University College Dublin in 2010 where he was previously awarded an MA in Anglo-Irish Literature (2003) anda BA Mode 1 English (2001). His PhD was one of the first projects in Ireland to include a practice-as-research component. He has a Certificate in Directing Theatre from NUI Maynooth and has worked as a freelance director of both theatre and opera. He studied Anne Bogarts viewpoints at The Abbey School of Acting and has participated in workshops on Epic theatre, Commedia DellArte, Jacques LeCoq and Shakespearian Verse with a range of international theatre practitioners. Research Themes:Ians researchconcerns theatre historiography, performance practices and transdisciplinary socially-engaged performance research. Hi work in theatre historiography challenges perceived conceptions and dominant histories of Irish theatre by recovering the work of marginalised theatre artists, institutions and artistic approaches. In addition to the recovery of theatre histories my research is leading in the analysis of performance practices, specifically directing for theatre, scenography and social circus practices.The majority of his ground-breaking research in transdisciplinary socially-engaged performance has been collaborative using mixed-methods to analyse youth and social circus and how its initiatives, pedagogy and practices can promote social wellbeing and inclusivity. Research Outputs:In addition, two his two monographs Experimental Irish Theatre, After W.B Yeats and Contemporary Irish theatre: Histories and theories co-authored with Charlotte McIvor Ian has publishedmany solo-authored and co-authored peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters in prestigious Public - No restrictionations by top academic presses (including Oxford University Press, Palgrave, Liverpool University Press, Brill Academic Press) edited two book collections and one special issue peer-reviewed journal and co-authored two EU funded research reports. His committed to Open Access publishing so his work isaccessible to maximise impact beyond academia. In order to fulfil this goal he has to date published a monograph, co-edited book collection, co-edited special issue journal and a book chapter all as open access. Research Innovation:Since 2019 Ian has collaborated with European Universities, Circus Schools and the Caravan Circus Network on competitive funded research projects that have developed the new transdisciplinary area of youth and social circus research and how its performance practices and pedagogy impact social wellbeing. Projects include: Circus ++ that created the first ever curriculum for aEuropean BA in Youth and Social Circus Pedagogy ( Erasmus +); CTF Advanced (Erasmus +) and Wires Crossed: Head Heart Balance (Creative Europe). He was also successful in securing funding from the YPCE Arts Council of Ireland artist-in-residence scheme Through this scheme Galway Community Circus taught on modules in the BA Early Years Education and Professional Practice, Childrens Studies, Drama and Theatre Studies. As a result, circus was explored as an interdisciplinary pedagogical tool to promote wellbeing, physical literacy and community building on three degrees where students go on to teach in early years education, primary school education and secondary school education.Ian has been a board member of Galway Community Circus since 2020 and Chair of the Board from 2021-2024 where he led in the development of their 5 year Strategic plan.Standing:Ians international and national standing is recognised by invitations to give talks and lectures in Ireland, Germany, Scotland, Sweden, Finland, Czech RePublic - No restriction, Braziland the United States.He has been elected three times since 2016 as Representative for Ireland to the Executive of the International Association for the Study of Irish Literatureand voted onto the executive of the Irish Society of Theatre Research (2015-17).Ianhas been awarded research funding and supportfromErasmus +, Creative Europe, Irish Research Council, Arts Council of the Government of Ireland, University of Galway, Fáilte Ireland, the Dutch Research Council (NWO), University College Dublin. He was appointed as External Examiner for BA (HONS) in Drama and Performance, Dundalk Institute of Technology (2020-2023) and for theEnglish, Media andCultural Studies Degree inIADT Dun Laoghaire in 2018-2021. His expertise was sought forthe validation panel for a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre andBA in Drama and Film Degree at Dundalk Institute of Technology. Supervision:Ian has had 4 PhD completions under his supervision in the past 10 years with projects that ranged from queering the theatre ofW.B Yeats and DAnnunzio, scenography at the Abbey theatre, feminist, site-specific and popular Irish theatre of the 1980s as well as a practice-based research on directing the plays of G.B Shaw. He welcomes doctoral and post-doctoral research proposals in any areas relating to theatre and performance studies and practice-based research, particularlyin his three main areas of theatre historiography, performance practices and socially-engaged performance research. Theatre Practice:Ian directed Sophie Treadwells Machinal as the inaugural production of the new ODonoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance with University of GalwayTheatre Studiesstudents in 2017 and musical theatre showcase for President of IrelandMichael D. Higgins on the launch of the venue. He later directed An Accidental Death of Anarchist by Dario Fo with Drama and Theatre studies students in 2019.Hisprofessional Directing credits include Purple Path to the Poppy Field ( Hora Prima, 2006) and The Magic Flute (2011), Orfeo Ed Eurydice (2010), Riders to the Sea and The Wandering Scholar ( 2009) all for DLR Glasthule Opera. Speak Truth toPower (2015) International Summer School for Human Rights. Waking the Feminist West New Playwriting Series (2016) as part of The Galway Theatre Festival. Two Stars (2017) forThoor Ballylee Society and Autumn Gathering Festival.When studying as an undergraduate Ian was elected auditor of Dramsoc UCD 19992000. Significant acting credits include The Hour Glass at the Peacock Theatre in 1993 and The Family for BBCRTE in 1994. Credit as Dramaturg: Portia Coughlan ( Blue Patch Productions, 2008)Reviewing: He has worked as a Theatre Reviewer for Irish Theatre Magazine and was the General Manager of that Public - No restrictionation in 2008. He has also worked as a theatre reviewer and researcher for RTE Radio 1s The Arts Show and Arena as well as a book reviewer for Adare Productions Seoige and OShea television programme.

Theatre historiography, popular theatre, modern and contemporary Irish theatre, experimental theatre, contemporary playwriting, dramaturgy, applied theatre, socially-engaged performance, theatre criticism, scenography, directing, acting methodologies, musical theatre, pantomime, variety, and circus.

Theatre history and practice, playwriting, directing and acting methodologies, theatre criticism, musical theatre, popular theatre, postdramatic theatre, modern theatre, Avant-garde, Irish theatre, contemporary theories of performance, postmodern performance, documentary theatre, gender, dramaturgy, archives, theatre historiography, cultural theory, applied performance, youth and social circus.