Helen Nicholson

Helen Nicholson is Professor of Theatre and Performance at Royal Holloway, University of London, with affiliations as Visiting Professor at the University of Stockholm and Associate Fellow at Homerton College, University of Cambridge. Her research focuses on contemporary theatre, applied performance, and equity in arts, addressing community engagement and civic participation through interdisciplinary projects. She leads major AHRC-funded initiatives like 'Local Theatres: Participation, Inclusion, Imagination' (2024-2026) and collaborates with institutions such as the National Theatre and Young Vic.

Her work bridges academia and practice, emphasizing amateur theatre’s social role and the cultural value of non-metropolitan arts. She co-edited RiDE: The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance (2004–2018) and held leadership roles including Vice Principal for Research Impact and Interdisciplinarity (2017–2021). Key awards include the David Bradby Prize (2019) and Distinguished Book Award (2012).

Her teaching includes courses on theatre for young audiences, devised theatre, and performance of memory, often paired with field placements. She mentors PhD students researching applied theatre, heritage performance, and community engagement.