Simon Parry

Simon Parry is a Senior Lecturer in Drama and Arts Management and Director for Social Responsibility at the University of Manchester's School of Arts, Languages and Cultures. He specializes in the intersection of theatre/performance with health equity, science communication, and community engagement. His research explores collaborations between artists, healthcare practitioners, and policymakers to address societal challenges. Parry co-leads the Organisations of Hope project to combat health inequities in Greater Manchester and co-edits the Routledge Companion to Performance and Science.

Education: BA Modern Languages (Nottingham), MA Text & Performance Studies (King's College London/RADA), PhD Drama (Royal Holloway University of London).

Key projects include Dementia Voices (award-winning performance Hidden), science-themed theatre with Contact Theatre, and evaluations of Theatre of Debate's educational programs. His work aligns with UN SDG 3 (Good Health) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Professional roles include former Board Member at Contact Theatre (2011–2018) and prior work at the Wellcome Trust (2002–2009) developing public engagement programs. He supervises PhDs focusing on theatre in health/education, activist performance, and socially engaged arts practices.