Aylwyn Walsh

Professor Aylwyn Walsh is a scholar-activist at the University of Leeds, where she serves as Director of Research in the School of Performance and Cultural Industries (from 2024). Her research and practice bridge performance and social change, with expertise in applied theatre, prison theatre, and creative activism. She has led international projects in South Africa, Greece, Mexico, and the UK, focusing on radical pedagogies, participatory arts, and transformative justice.

• Education: PhD (Northampton), MA (Goldsmiths), BA (Rhodes University)
• Key Collaborations: AHRC/GCRF's Changing the Story, Bottomup (South Africa), TIDAL (UK)

Her work spans socially engaged performance, critical ethnography, and decolonial practice, with a focus on race, gender, and migration. She specializes in prison theatre and environmental activism, informed by feminist and queer frameworks.

Scientific Awards:

• IFTR Helsinki Prize (2013)
• TaPRA PG Essay Prize (2012)
• David Bradby Monograph Prize shortlist (2021)

Walsh has advised PhD researcher Chiedza Nicola Hollinshead and taught at institutions including Goldsmiths, UEL, and Rhodes University. Her artistic work has been exhibited at the Royal National Theatre Studio and Berlin Biennale. She co-founded Ministry of Untold Stories and advocates for ethical practice in community-based projects.