معرفی
Dr Paul Halferty is a Lecturer/Assistant Professor in the School of English, Drama and Film at University College Dublin (UCD), where he also serves as Director of the UCD Centre for Canadian Studies. His academic work bridges theatre history, queer performance studies, and transnational cultural exchange, with a focus on Canadian, Irish, and LGBTQ+ theatre. He completed his PhD at the University of Toronto, where his dissertation won the Clifford Leech Prize.
- PhD, University of Toronto
- MA, University of Toronto
- B.F.A. (Hons), York University, Ontario
Paul Halferty's research explores the intersections of theatre and identity, particularly gender, sexuality, race, and nationality. His scholarship emphasizes queer theatre, Canadian and Irish performance traditions, technology in performance, and the politics of representation. As a dramaturge and theatre scholar, he brings both practical and theoretical insights to his work. He has published widely in journals such as Theatre Research in Canada and Canadian Theatre Review, and is co-editor of Analysing Gender in Performance.
His recent publications reflect a sustained engagement with queer and Canadian theatre history, identity formation, and performance activism. Themes across his articles include the evolution of queer spaces, the politics of gay theatre in Toronto and Ireland, and the role of performance in cultural memory. His work often combines archival research with contemporary critical theory, contributing to broader conversations in gender and performance studies.
- Clifford Leech Dissertation Prize
- College of Arts and Humanities Teaching Award -- 2019-20
Halferty has been actively involved in academic service, including editorial roles for Canadian Theatre Review and peer reviewing for journals such as Theatre Survey and The Journal of Homosexuality. He has led major research initiatives, including the "Untold Stories" conference and the "Landspeak" gathering, fostering collaboration between Indigenous artists from Canada and Irish cultural practitioners. He has also coordinated significant teaching modules in avant-garde theatre, queer performance, and contemporary drama, reflecting his interdisciplinary and inclusive pedagogical approach.
He previously served as Head of Subject for Drama Studies at UCD (2019–2023) and is a member of the boards of the Gaiety School of Acting and the Ireland Canada University Foundation. His current monograph project, Political Stages: Gay Theatre in Toronto, 1967–1985, is under contract with McGill-Queen’s University Press.
