Melissa Merchant

Melissa Merchant is a Senior Lecturer in English & Theatre and Associate Dean (Learning & Teaching) at Murdoch University’s School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, within the College of Law, Arts and Social Sciences. She specializes in Restoration theatre, Shakespearean adaptations, and disability studies, with a focus on actresses, popular culture, and performance studies.

Education:

• PhD in Theatre, Murdoch University (2013)
• Bachelor of Arts (English, First Class Honours) and Bachelor of Arts (Media), Murdoch University (2005/2002)
• SFHEA (Advance HE, 2021) and Advanced Certificate in Learning & Teaching (Murdoch, 2018)

Research Interests: Merchant’s work examines Restoration theatre historiography, Shakespeare’s contemporary relevance, and disability media access. Ongoing projects include re-evaluating Restoration actresses’ historical narratives, Bogan Shakespeare’s audience dynamics, and innovative assessment practices in higher education.

Recognition:

• 2018 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
• 2019 College ABLSS Teaching Award
• Consistently recognized as top 10% of teaching staff

Practical Engagement: As a theatre practitioner, she directs and performs in cross-cultural Shakespearean works, collaborating with institutions like the University of Malaya and Malaysia’s Temple of Fine Arts. Her creative work bridges academic research and live performance, emphasizing experimental and intercultural approaches.