Josephine Machon

Josephine Machon is an Associate Professor in Contemporary Performance at Middlesex University, serving as Programme Leader for the MA Theatre Arts. She has held academic roles at Brunel University (2007-2012) and St. Mary's University (2004-2007). Her research focuses on immersive theatre, audience spectatorship, and embodied performance aesthetics. Machon has authored influential works like The Punchdrunk Encyclopaedia (2019) and Immersive Theatres (2013), recognized with prestigious awards including the CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title (2014). She co-edits the Palgrave Macmillan Series in Performance & Technology, reviews for leading journals, and serves on the AHRC Peer Review College since 2016.

Her academic qualifications include a strong background in theatre studies, with editorial roles at journals like International Journal of Performance Arts & Digital Media. Current doctoral supervision includes projects by Elisabetta del Ponte, Maria Oshodi, and Rachel Meller Higton. Machon's research explores intersections between technology, embodiment, and immersive practices, with notable studies on companies like Punchdrunk and Lundahl & Seitl. She investigates sensory engagement, spatial aesthetics, and the transformative role of audience participation in contemporary performance.

Awards highlight her contributions to performance scholarship: her 2013 book was CHOICE Award-winning, and her 2019 encyclopaedia reached Amazon's #1 Bestseller in Theatre. Her work bridges theory and practice, influencing both academic discourse and live art creation. Machon's grants and external activities include Punchdrunk Enrichment programs and collaborative research with artists, emphasizing applied performance research.