Lucy Gough

Lucy Gough is a Creative Research Fellow in Script Writing at Aberystwyth University's Department of Theatre, Film, and Television Studies, with a distinguished career spanning over three decades as a professional playwright across theatre, radio, and television. Her work bridges academic research and industry practice through commissioned projects with major broadcasters and theatre companies.

Gough holds a BA Hons in Drama from Aberystwyth University (1985) and an MA in Playwriting from the University of Birmingham. Her academic journey includes professional commissions from BBC Radio 3, Channel 4's Hollyoaks (for which she wrote regularly over ten years), and international theatre companies, establishing her dual expertise in creative practice and scholarly inquiry.

Her research centers on cross-media adaptation processes—examining textual transformations between radio, film, and theatre—and the evolving role of writers in physical theatre spaces. Recent projects like the Arts Council of Wales-funded 'Beyond Words' (2010-2012) investigate how creative translation across mediums generates new artistic forms, with current work focusing on virtual reality applications for radio drama adaptation.

Analysis of her 2018-2024 outputs reveals consistent exploration of literary adaptation (particularly Dylan Thomas and Tennyson), immersive storytelling through emerging technologies, and the materiality of performance spaces. Her collaborations with technologists like P. Woycicki demonstrate how digital tools expand traditional narrative boundaries while maintaining theatrical essence.

Key recognitions include:

• Creative Wales Award from Arts Council of Wales (2010-2012)
• Shortlisting for John Whiting Award (1994)
• Shortlisting for BBC Wales Author of the Year (1994)

Gough actively shapes emerging talent as external examiner for PhD practice-as-research programs and new BA Scriptwriting degrees, while her industry impact is evident through writing workshops for BBC, Birmingham Rep, Stagecoach, and contributions to BBC Radio Cymru arts programming. Major grants include the Arts Council of Wales Creative Wales Award supporting her 'Beyond Words' research program.

Her current collaborative laboratory with P. Woycicki pioneers VR integration in performance, notably through the 'Mapping the Soul VR' project that transforms radio plays into immersive gallery experiences, demonstrating how video game technology can revolutionize audio storytelling while preserving its intimate qualities.