Find Academic Supervisors

• Theatre History
• Cultural Studies
• Performance Studies
• +4 more

Chris Hay is a Professor of Drama at the Flinders Drama Centre , Flinders University, and Director of the Assemblage Centre for Creative Practice Research within the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. He leads the AusStage Australian Live Performance Database and co-leads the Australian Creative Histories and Futures project for the Australian Research Data Commons. His research explores funded cultural output as a lens for understanding national anxieties. Education: PhD and BA (Hons) from University of Sydney, PG Cert in Learning and Teaching from Rose Bruford College Research Interests span Australian theatre history, cultural policy analysis, actor training pedagogy, and digital humanities infrastructure. He specializes in intersections between institutional funding and national identity, with particular focus on performing arts subsidy systems and the somatic dimensions of training. Scientific Awards include the Marlis Thiersch Prize (2022) and multiple ARC grants, including a DECRA Fellowship (DE200101426) for researching Australia's live performance subsidy origins. He has received LIEF grants for expanding AusStage's international impact and building the Australian Cultural Data Engine. Key Responsibilities: Director, Assemblage Centre for Creative Practice Research Academic Lead, AusStage Database Co-President, Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama, and Performance Studies (ADSA) Co-Editor, Journal of Australian Studies Editor, Performance Paradigm Associate Editor, Theatre, Dance, and Performance Training His recent publications examine data feminism in Australian theatre, actor training's role in policy implementation, and transnational Eurovision fandom. He co-authored the 2022 book Contemporary Australian Playwriting: Re-visioning the Nation on the Mainstage with Stephen Carleton.

• Philology
• Russian Literature
• Theater Studies
• +5 more

Evgenya Abelyuk serves as Associate Professor at the School of Philological Studies within HSE University's Faculty of Humanities. She concurrently holds the positions of Chief Expert at the Centre for Digital Archival Studies and Programme Head for Contemporary Philology in Russian Language and Literature Instruction at Secondary Schools. Having joined HSE University in 2010, she maintains active roles in research, teaching, and academic leadership. Her educational background includes: 1975: Philological Degree from Lomonosov Moscow State University 1999-2001: Qualification Improvement in Philological Text Analysis (MIROS) 2005: Modern Text Analysis Methods (NIIRO) 2012: Work with Gifted Children (Moscow State University) 2015: Professional Internship in France (French Embassy Program) 2018-2021: Multiple advanced training programs in literary research and Russian language pedagogy Professor Abelyuk's research centers on philology , Russian literature (particularly Soviet-era works), and theater studies with specialized focus on Taganka Theater. Her work explores mythological language in art , digital commentary systems , and historical contexts of literary production. She pioneered the Digital Universal Commentary project, creating visual annotations for Soviet-era literary texts. Her recent publications (2020-2025) reveal three dominant trajectories: Bulgakov studies examining socio-political dimensions of his work; Taganka Theater analysis focusing on Yuri Lyubimov's directorial legacy; and digital humanities innovations in literary commentary. These intersect with her educational mission through textbooks and teacher training materials. Her scientific recognition includes: Best Teacher Award (2025) Best Teacher Award (2021-2022) Best Teacher Award (2017) Best Teacher Award (2013-2015) Professor Abelyuk supervises master's theses in philology while developing educational programs like the "Mentor's Seminar" and "Research Seminar on Reading Practices." Her grant work centers on digital projects including the Visual Commentary initiative and distance learning methodologies. She leads collaborative efforts through the Centre for Digital Archival Studies and maintains active partnerships with Taganka Theater researchers and international philological conferences.

• Theatre Directing
• Action Analysis
• Physical Actions in Theatre
• +5 more

Hans Henriksen is Professor of Directing and current subject manager for directing education at the Academy of Theatre, Oslo National Academy of the Arts. Previously serving as head of the directing department for over a decade, he has shaped Norwegian theatre pedagogy through Russian-derived methodologies since joining KHIO in 2010. His educational foundation includes: MA in Stage Directing from St. Petersburg State Academy of Theatre Arts, Russia Henriksen's research interrogates institutional vulnerabilities in public theatres, privatization risks, and directorial techniques rooted in Tovstanogov's action-analysis methods. His work bridges practical staging with critical policy analysis, emphasizing physical action frameworks and pedagogical innovation in actor training. Publication trends reveal escalating focus on structural threats to theatre institutions (2022-2023), contrasting with 2012 works analyzing specific productions like Jeppe på bjerget and foundational directing principles. This evolution demonstrates consistent engagement with both artistic practice and systemic challenges in Scandinavian theatre. With nearly 20 years teaching directors and actors across all educational levels at KHIO, Henriksen transmits Irina Malochevskaja's interpretation of Russian directorial heritage. His mentorship cultivates technical rigor while confronting contemporary pressures on public theatre funding and artistic autonomy.

James ThomasView profile

Professor

• Play Analysis
• Directing
• Stanislavsky's Active Analysis
• +3 more

James Thomas is a Professor in the Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance at Wayne State University. His academic journey includes degrees from St. Ambrose College (BA), Villanova University (MA), and the University of Texas at Austin (PhD). He has held leadership roles, including Department Chair (1994–1999 and 2010–2012) and CFPCA Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs (2015–2023). His expertise spans Play Analysis, Directing, Stanislavsky’s Active Analysis, and Contemporary Russian Performance. Thomas pioneered a summer study abroad program with the Moscow Art Theatre School (2001–2021) and has translated seminal works by Anatoly Efros. He authored books like Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers and A Director’s Guide to Stanislavsky’s Active Analysis . His research includes Genre Analysis for Performance and Production. He has received notable awards: the ATHE Service Award (1996), WSU Outstanding Mentor Award (2008), and Murray Jackson Creative Scholar in the Arts (2014–15). His work bridges historical and contemporary performance practices, emphasizing pedagogy and global theatre traditions.

Mariusz LachView profile

Assistant Professor

• Theatre Studies
• Religious Drama
• Biblical Adaptations
• +3 more

Rev. Dr. Mariusz Lach is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Drama and Theatre, Institute of Literary Studies, Faculty of Humanities, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. His work bridges academic theatre studies and practical religious performance, with a focus on Polish Christian amateur theatre, biblical adaptations, and the dramaturgy of Roman Brandstaetter. His research explores: The intersection of faith and performance in contemporary Polish theatre Biblical narratives adapted for amateur and educational stages The pedagogical and evangelistic role of theatre in religious communities He has directed over 30 theatrical productions, predominantly biblical musicals (e.g., Joseph , Odyssey , New Paradise Lost ), emphasizing accessible sacred storytelling. Lach's publications (2013–2024) reveal consistent themes: 80% analyze religious theatre , with emphasis on post-2000 Polish adaptations; 60% examine biblical figures or texts ; and 40% focus on educational/school theatre . His works frequently reference Roman Brandstaetter's dramaturgy and Salesian theatrical traditions. Awards & Honors: Badge of Honor: Meritorious for Polish Culture (2017) Main Directing Award (2013) He actively organizes conferences (e.g., National Forum of Religious Theatres), leads the ITP Theatre troupe, and judges national theatre festivals. His urban performances (e.g., Moria , Exodus ) engage public spaces for religious storytelling.