Matt Lockitt

Dr Matt Lockitt is a Senior Lecturer in Musical Theatre at the University of Winchester, affiliated with the Faculty of Education and the Arts. He holds a PhD from Monash University (Australia), focusing on the dramaturgy of musical theatre. His research explores the interplay of speech, song, and dance in contemporary musicals, with a particular interest in new musical theatre creation and dramaturgical processes.

Education:

• PhD (Research Theatre and Performance), Monash University (2013)
• Graduate Diploma of Theatre, Monash University
• Bachelor of Performing Arts (First Class Honours), Monash University

Research Interests: Lockitt specializes in American and Australian musical theatre, dramaturgy, narrative theory, and audience engagement. He investigates how characters transition between spoken, sung, and danced modes in dramatic contexts, and how new musicals are collaboratively developed. His work bridges theoretical analysis and practical production, emphasizing interdisciplinary creation.

Key Contributions: Lockitt has directed student collaborations producing original musicals like Metamorphoses (2015) and Sticks and Stones (2014). His writing explores themes of liminality in performance and the role of non-singing characters. Recent publications include a chapter in The Routledge Companion to the Contemporary Musical (2019) and analyses of Bernarda Alba (2014).

Awards:

• International Federation of Theatre Research Attendance Bursary (2014)
• Australian Postgraduate Award (2010-2013)

Professional Engagement: Lockitt has presented at international conferences such as the International Federation of Theatre Research (Warwick, 2014) and Song, Stage, Screen (Kansas City, 2011). He contributes to public discourse via platforms like The Conversation (2016) and ABC Radio (2016).