Craig Walker

Craig Walker is Professor of Drama at Queen's University with cross-appointments in the Departments of English Literature and Cultural Studies. He served as Head of the former Department of Drama from 2012 until its merger with the School of Music in 2015, and then became the inaugural Director of the DAN School of Drama and Music until 2022. Under his leadership, the school introduced innovative programs including the Bachelor of Music Theatre, the M.A. in Arts Leadership and the Graduate Diploma in Arts Management.

Dr. Walker earned his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto, where he had taken his B.A. and M.A. in English. Prior to graduate school, he worked as a professional actor with companies such as the Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival, and the National Arts Centre English Company, with notable appearances in productions including Robert Lepage's Macbeth and The Turn of the Screw.

His research focuses on Directing, Acting, Theatre Studies, and Arts Leadership, with particular expertise in Canadian Dramatic Imagination and Western Tradition. His scholarly work spans Shakespearean studies, contemporary Canadian theatre, and the intersection of drama with cultural studies. Dr. Walker has directed numerous productions for Queen's Drama, Theatre Kingston, and the St Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, with his production of Twelfth Night winning the 2012 Prix Rideau Award for Outstanding Production.

Dr. Walker's publications reveal a strong trajectory in Canadian theatre scholarship and classical adaptation. His work spans academic research, dramatic adaptation, and original composition, demonstrating his versatility across theoretical and practical aspects of theatre. The publications show particular strength in bridging historical and contemporary theatre practices.

• Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
• Prix Rideau Award for Outstanding Production (2012)

Dr. Walker has demonstrated exceptional leadership in academic administration, guiding the merger of Drama and Music departments into the DAN School. He has served as Book Review Editor for Modern Drama (1998-2000) and regularly contributes essays to Stratford Festival house programs. His innovative approach to theatre education has created new pathways for students through programs in Arts Leadership and Management.