Jane Collins

Jane Collins is Professor of Theatre and Performance at Wimbledon College of Arts, University of the Arts London. She is a writer, director, and theatre-maker with extensive international experience, including collaborations in Uganda and South Africa. Her research focuses on performance methodologies, scenography, and post-colonial identity construction through theatre. She co-edited the seminal anthology Theatre and Performance Design: A Reader in Scenography.

Research Interests: Collins investigates how theatrical frameworks interrogate contemporary society, with emphasis on visual aspects of performance. Her work explores site-specific productions, historical reimagination (e.g., Brecht in Uganda, Webster’s Duchess of Malfi), and the ethics of representing cultural identities.

Publications: Her recent works address transnational performance, pedagogical innovation in actor training, and museum scenography. Key themes include decolonizing theatre practices, materiality in historical stages, and community-engaged art.

Awards & Committees:

• Member, AHRC Peer Review College (2020–present)
• Committee Member: THEATRE AND PERFORMANCE DESIGN PEDAGOGY (2017–2018)

Grants & Projects: Funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council for projects like Performing Romani Identities and Umuntu, Ngumuntu, Ngabantu: The Story of African Choir. Current work examines digital archiving and ecological networks in stone-dwelling microbiomes.

Supervision: Mentored 12 doctoral researchers in topics spanning participatory puppetry, class representation in theatre, and immersive performance technologies.