Hannah Banks

Hannah Banks is a Lecturer in Creative Industries at the University of the Sunshine Coast, affiliated with the School of Business and Creative Industries. She holds a PhD in Theatre from Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington (2018), alongside BA (Hons) and BA degrees from the same institution. Her research focuses on feminist performance methodologies, devised theatre practices, and Aotearoa New Zealand theatre studies. She is a co-founder of the award-winning theatre company My Accomplice and has extensive experience in acting, directing, and producing across Aotearoa’s theatre scene.

Education:

• PhD in Theatre, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington (2018)
• BA (Hons) and BA in Creative Arts, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington

Research Interests:

• Feminist devising methodologies
• Practice-as-research in theatre
• Gender and performance studies
• Collaborative creation processes

Awards:

• Victor Emeljanow Bursary (2019)
• PGSA Victorias Award for Post-Graduate Teaching (2017)
• Richard Campion Accolade for Outstanding Performance (2014)

Dr Banks coordinates the Bachelor of Creative Industries program and actively engages in devising theatre education. Her work emphasizes empathy-driven collaboration and sustainable creative practices. She has presented research nationally and internationally, including at the ADSA Conference and the Suffrage 125 conference in Wellington.