معرفی
Dr David Fenton serves as a Lecturer in Theatre at the School of Creative Arts, University of Southern Queensland, where he also directs the Bachelor of Creative Arts Honours program. With 39 years of combined industry and academic experience—including 10 years in tertiary education—he bridges professional theatre practice with scholarly work across performance innovation and applied theatre.
His educational credentials include:
- Diploma in Theatre (Brisbane College of Advanced Education)
- BA (Drama) (Queensland University of Technology)
- Graduate Diploma in Theatre Directing (National Institute of Dramatic Art)
- Master of Fine Art (Queensland University of Technology)
- PhD in Performance Innovation (Queensland University of Technology, 2007)
David’s research interrogates postdramatic theatre structures and intermedial performance, evidenced by his practice-led doctoral thesis Unstable Acts. His work integrates dramaturgical innovation with contemporary live art practices, emphasizing embodied knowledge transfer between academic and professional theatre contexts.
Key recognitions include:
- Philip Parsons Prize for 'Performance as Research' (2007)
- 'Best Performing Arts Event' co-award for VENUS AND ADONIS (Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival, 1996)
As a research supervisor in Performing Arts, Applied Theatre, and Drama fields, he mentors students through practice-led methodologies. His industry leadership spans Artistic Director roles at Riverina Theatre Company (1996–1999) and Northern Ireland’s Replay Theatre (2009–2010), alongside executive positions including Acting CEO of Metro Arts (2014–2015) and Head of Performance Practices at NIDA (2012–2014).
David has directed 65+ professional productions including Bell Shakespeare’s HAMLET (1993), MACBETH (1994), and Sydney Opera House’s MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (1994), demonstrating sustained artistic engagement that informs his pedagogical approach.
