Benjamin McDonald

Benjamin McDonald is a Lecturer in Theatre Studies at the University of York, School of Arts and Creative Technologies. He is nearing completion of his PhD, focusing on the intersection of mental illness representation and theatrical performance. His work explores how mental health conditions are dramatized, including ethical and medico-legal dimensions of portraying automatism and feigned illness.

• Education: PhD candidate (University of York), prior teaching qualifications in secondary, further, and higher education.

Research interests include scriptwriting, theatre directing, and the application of anthropological data in performance. He actively engages in public-facing projects, blending research with creative practice.

In 2019, he was a finalist for the HRC Doctoral Fellowships, recognized for research communication skills. In 2020, he organized and presented at the University of York Postgraduate Virtual Symposium, exploring global storytelling trends through ethnodrama.

• Awards: HRC Fellowship finalist (2019), Symposium presentation award (2020).

His work bridges academic research and creative output, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and public engagement.