Amy Skinner

Dr. Amy Skinner is an Associate Professor in Co-Production in Mental Health Research at York St John University. As a core member of the Institute for Social Justice, she specializes in collaborative research projects involving individuals excluded from traditional research agendas, with a focus on child and adolescent mental health, neurodiversity advocacy, and creative research methods. Her academic journey began in theatre and performance studies, where she published on scenography and cross-cultural performance.

• Co-led projects like Inclusive Spaces (neurodivergent student experiences) and Weathered Estates (gender and craft-based activism).
• Currently expanding Puppetify! to explore embodied mental health narratives and authoring Theatre & Neurodiversity (Bloomsbury, 2025).

Her research bridges theatre, neurodiversity, and climate resilience, prioritizing trauma-aware methods. Key collaborations include the Converge Evaluation and Research Team and international partnerships in projects like Rooted in Crisis. She is also launching a regional neurodivergent theatre makers forum.

Scientific Awards

• Longlisted for the International 2019 Prague Quadrennial Best Performance Design Publication award

Research Themes

Her work emphasizes co-produced research design, creative methodologies, and mental health system critique, with recurring sub-fields in climate resilience, avant-garde performance, and autism advocacy.