Maria Elena Capitani

Maria Elena Capitani is an Adjunct Professor and Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Parma, Italy, specializing in contemporary British drama and theatre. Her academic work focuses on adaptation, identity politics, and the intersections of classical and modern performance.

Her educational background includes:

• BA and MA with honors in Foreign Languages and Literatures (University of Parma, 2006 and 2010)
• PhD in "The Politics of Re-(En)visioning: Contemporary British Rewritings of Greek and Roman Tragedies" (University of Parma, 2016), awarded the 'Doctor Europaeus' distinction
• Summer courses at the Universities of Edinburgh, Cambridge, Trinity College Dublin, and Aix-Marseille Université

Capitani's research spans contemporary British theatre since 1956, with emphasis on national, cultural, sexual, and gender identities. She investigates adaptation of Greco-Roman tragedy, Shakespeare, and Romanticism in modern works, intertextuality, corporeality, Brexit literature, care studies, and ecocriticism. Her work also delves into British Romanticism, particularly the Pisan Circle and the journal The Liberal.

Recent publications (2020-2024) demonstrate her expertise in Martin Crimp's theatrical legacy, Brexit's literary impact, Shelagh Delaney's enduring relevance, and choral performance in contemporary British drama. She contributes to adaptation studies and the analysis of political and social themes on stage.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Doctor Europaeus (2016)

Capitani has been involved in significant research projects, including the PRIN 2022 "Reviving The Liberal" and the Spanish Ministry-funded "Gender, Affect and Care in the Twenty-First Century British Theatre" (2022-2025). She serves on editorial boards and as a referee for multiple academic journals.

She actively collaborates with international research groups such as RADAC, CDE, AIA, ESSE, BARS, CISR, MAP, and "Officina 900", fostering interdisciplinary dialogue in theatre and literary studies.