Matt Smith

Matt Smith is a Senior Lecturer in Applied Theatre and Puppetry at the University of Portsmouth, affiliated with the Faculty of Creative & Cultural Industries and the Faculty of Business & Law. He holds dual roles in the School of Film, Media and Creative Technologies and the Revolution Plastics Institute Centre of Excellence for Heritage Innovation. His research focuses on applied puppetry, extended reality, ecological practices, and collaborative art-making. Smith earned his Ph.D. in Applied Puppetry from Royal Holloway, University of London (2017).

Key projects include Puppet Psychogeography exploring urban design through play, See Bin Sea Change addressing ecological issues via plastic waste puppetry, and SoundGarden collaborating with architecture students. He has also developed projects in language acquisition, criminology simulations, and disaster management training through immersive theatre.

Smith’s work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to education and environmental sustainability. His awards include recognition for decolonizing curriculum initiatives and excellence in collaborative projects. He actively participates in international conferences, editorial activities, and community engagement initiatives across theatre, architecture, and public health domains.