Neil Mackenzie

Neil Mackenzie is a Senior Lecturer at the Manchester School of Theatre, Manchester Metropolitan University, with a career spanning performance creation, curation, and academic research. He founded the performance collective Plane Performance in 1992 and serves as Artistic Director of the Flare International Festival of New Theatre, which he has directed since 2011.

Education:

• MA in Contemporary Theatre Practice from Lancaster University
• BA (Hons) in English and Drama from Leicester University

Research Interests:

• Deconstructive strategies in contemporary theatre
• Performance curation and avant-garde theatre trends
• Relationship between canonical texts and live performance
• Audience reception and shared physical experience
• Re-contextualization of dance/music in theatre
• Curatorial platforms for performance research

Article Trends: His work focuses on experimental theatre, including text deconstruction, festival curation, and audience interaction. Publications often explore postdramatic performance, technological integration, and the theoretical underpinn'their impact on theatrical experiences.

Professional Networks:

• Board member of Reckless Sleepers performance company
• Member of Live Art North West (LANWest)
• Associate Member of Live Art UK
• Key collaborator with Axis Arts Centre and HOME Manchester

Teaching: He leads undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Drama and Contemporary Performance, emphasizing artistic practice, academic inquiry, and professional development. Supervised Jason Crouch's PhD on digital communication and performance.