John Dean

John Dean is the Head of the Media, Communication and Performing Arts (MCPA) Division at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. He holds a BA (Hons) in Acting from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and has extensive professional experience as an actor, director, and teacher with renowned institutions like the Royal Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare’s Globe. Dean co-founded Organic Theatre, a research laboratory focusing on physical theatre and multimedia crossovers, which was shortlisted for the Total Theatre Award. He has taught at QMU since 2008, contributing to curriculum development in Drama & Performance, Theatre & Film, and Acting for Stage & Screen. His research interests include body in performance, mask work, Third Theatre, and theatre anthropology.

Previously, Dean served as a Teaching Fellow at Lancaster University and a visiting lecturer at institutions including the University of Plymouth and Guildhall School of Music & Drama. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2016) and has collaborated with global theatre practitioners such as Nicolai Karpov and Silviu Purcarete. His work emphasizes innovative pedagogy, technology-enhanced learning, and mindfulness in teaching.

Organic Theatre, co-founded with Bianca Mastrominico, remains central to his practice, blending performance training and interdisciplinary research. Dean’s career bridges professional theatre experience with academic leadership, shaping contemporary approaches to performance education and creative practice.