Personal statement

Olivia is a Senior Lecturer in Drama Studies. She joined Bath Spa University after completing an MA and Ph.D. at Tufts University in Massachusetts, USA. Her doctoral thesis was entitled 'Bringing Down the House' and examined the challenges facing regional theatres in Britain over the last half-century, and most particularly since 1979 and the 18-year Conservative rule. The work was revised and updated, and published by Intellect in November 2008.

Prior to coming to BSU, Olivia worked as a lecturer for three years in the Performing Arts Department at Emerson College and in the Theatre Department at Pine Manor College, both in Boston. Her professional background is in directing - she also holds a postgraduate diploma in directing - and in addition to her academic work, has produced and directed numerous works across Britain and in the United States.

Academic qualifications

  • BA Trinity College, Dublin
  • MA Tufts University, MA
  • PhD Tufts University, MA.

Professional qualifications

Department of Drama and Dance, Tufts University

  • Ph.D. Drama. (Bringing Down the House: The Inevitable Crisis in Regional Theatres in England, 1979-97). Award high pass, November 2004
  • MA (Drama). September, 2001.

Trinity College Dublin

  • Drama Studies and English Literature: BA, First Class Honours, Drama Studies and English Literature.

Professional memberships

  • American Society for Theatre Research
  • Association of Theatre in Higher Education
  • Popular Culture Association
  • Theatre and Performance Research Association.

Teaching specialism

  • Gender and Performance
  • Performance and New Media
  • Directing for the Stage
  • Experimental/Avant Garde performance
  • Writing for Performance.

Research and academic outputs

Go to ResearchSPAce