Phil Smith

Dr. Phil Smith is an Associate Professor at the University of Plymouth's School of Art, Design and Architecture within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business. Specializing in mythogeography, site-specific performance, and walking arts, he explores intersections between performance, environment, and cultural critique. His work spans academic research, artistic collaboration, and community engagement, emphasizing counter-tourism, eco-gothic narratives, and participatory practices. He co-founded the artistic duo Crab & Bee with Helen Billinghurst, producing projects like 'Plymouth Labyrinth' and the book The Pattern. As a dramaturg for TNT Theatre (Munich), he contributed to productions such as Free Mandela.

Smith's research focuses on reimagining spaces through performance, with recent publications including Goblin Queens and Qualia Knights (2024), Living In The Magical Mode (2022), and The Silversnake Project (2022). He supervises postgraduate students in related fields and organizes international conferences like 'Walking’s New Movements'. His pedagogical work includes textbooks like Making Site-Specific Theatre and Performance (2018) and COVERT: A Handbook (2021).

He co-authored TNT: The New Theatre (2022) and collaborates with global artists on projects blending performance, ecology, and spatial politics. His work is featured in journals, talks, and media interviews, emphasizing the transformative potential of walking as a performative practice.