Sheila McCormick

Dr. Sheila McCormick is a Senior Lecturer in Performance at the University of Salford's School of Arts, Media and Creative Technologies. She serves as Programme Leader for BA Theatre and Performance Practice and contributes to both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. Dr. McCormick is affiliated with multiple research centers including the Creative Technology Research Centre, Art & Design Research Centre, English Research Centre, and Centre for Applied Health Research. She has established an Applied and Socially Engaged Network within her school to foster interdisciplinary collaboration.

Dr. McCormick's research spans several key areas focused on the intersection of performance and social issues. Her work particularly emphasizes:

• Applied and Socially Engaged Theatre Practice
• Political and Documentary Theatre
• Performance and Health applications, especially in dementia care settings
• Conversations around death and dying through performance
• Theatre of the Real in contemporary contexts

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on how performance can address challenging social topics. Dr. McCormick's work shows particular interest in using performance as a method to facilitate difficult conversations, especially around death and dying, and to explore innovative approaches to dementia care. Her research often employs Practice as Research methodologies, blending artistic practice with academic inquiry.

Dr. McCormick has received recognition for her contributions to theatre and performance research, with her work aligning with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals including health and well-being, quality education, reduced inequalities, and peaceful societies. Her research demonstrates practical applications in healthcare settings and community engagement.

As a supervisor, Dr. McCormick welcomes PhD students interested in Documentary Theatre, Applied and Socially Engaged Arts Practice, Contemporary Performance, Political Theatre, Irish Theatre, and Theatre and Performance Practice. Her supervision approach emphasizes practice-based research methods and real-world applications of performance.

Dr. McCormick leads the 'Can We Talk About Death' research project, which explores how autobiographical performance and commensality can facilitate conversations around death and dying. She is also working on an Edited Collection with colleagues from Galway University titled 'Theatre(s) of the Real in the Twenty-First Century: From Documentary to Verbatim to Testimonial and Beyond.'