Adam Alston

Adam Alston is a Reader in Theatre and Performance at Goldsmiths, University of London, and co-director of the AHRC-funded Staging Decadence research initiative. Their work bridges decadence studies, immersive theatre, and participatory performance with a focus on pleasure, risk, and neoliberal critique.

• PhD in Drama and Theatre from Royal Holloway (2013)
• MA in International Performance Research (2010) - Universities of Warwick and Amsterdam
• BA in Theatre and Performance Studies from University of Warwick (2008)

Current research explores decadence as embodied practice in 21st-century theatre, drag, cabaret, and digital cultures. Their Staging Decadence project (2020-2022) produced a documentary, international events, and a Bloomsbury monograph that won the 2024 David Bradby Prize. Key collaborations include Curious Directive (science-led theatre), Studio Will Dutta (digital decadence), and advisory work with Fast Familiar on participatory technologies.

Recent publications span decadent scenography, theatre-disease intersections, and occult feminist performance, with a 2024 anthology co-edited with Jane Desmarais. They serve on the editorial board of Volupté: Interdisciplinary Journal of Decadence Studies and maintain an active presence in research centers like the Decadence Research Centre.

Scientific Awards:

• David Bradby Monograph Prize (2024) for Staging Decadence: Theatre, Performance, and the Ends of Capitalism

Active in supervising immersive theatre projects and advising on participatory performance, Alston has collaborated with institutions including the V&A, HERE Arts Centre (New York), and Queen Mary University of London. Their work interrogates neoliberal value in performance, audience risk, and antitheatrical prejudice in historical contexts.