Clare Wright

Dr. Clare Wright is a Senior Lecturer in Medieval Literature at the University of Kent's Department of English, based at Rutherford College. Her research focuses on medieval drama and performance culture, with particular emphasis on spatial dynamics, embodiment, and interdisciplinary collaboration between pre-modern scholars and contemporary artists. She leads the Performance Cultures research group and is affiliated with several academic societies including the Medieval and Renaissance Drama Society and the Premodern Performance Cultures Network.

• Editorial Board Member, ROMARD
• Founder of the Premodern Performance Cultures Network
• Former Chair of the Medieval English Theatre Society (2016–2019)

Her current research project examines Henry VIII's 1511 Great Westminster Tournament, analyzing its role in royal identity formation and performance history. Recent publications include Morality Plays (2021) and influential essays in Theatre Survey and Shakespeare Bulletin. She has pioneered practice-as-research methodologies and led public performance workshops.

Clare actively supervises doctoral students in medieval and early modern drama, European performance studies, and interdisciplinary creative projects. She has contributed to AHRC-funded research initiatives, including the Before Shakespeare project on London's commercial theatre origins.