Simon Murray

Simon Murray is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow's School of Culture & Creative Arts, affiliated with the Theatre Studies department. He retired from his role as Senior Lecturer in Theatre Studies in 2023 but remains active in research and consultancy. His career spans over four decades, including roles at Dartington College of Arts and training in Paris with Philippe Gaulier. He co-founded the journal Theatre, Dance and Performance Training and has authored/co-authored influential works like Performing Ruins (2020) and Mime into Physical Theatre (2023). His research focuses on physical theatre, actor training, performance and ruination, and interdisciplinary cultural studies.

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts (Sociology), Newcastle Polytechnic (now Northumbria University), 1971

Research Interests:

• Physical theatre and actor training methodologies
• Ruination and performance
• Interdisciplinary performance practices
• Collaborative arts and cultural pedagogy

Recent Publications: Over 25 publications, including monographs, edited volumes, and journal articles. Recent work explores the cultural history of physical theatre in the UK and the concept of 'ruin' in performance.

Awards/Grants: None explicitly listed, but his contributions include co-editing major journals and securing collaborative grants for public art projects like THEN/NOW.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Dramaturgy as Critical Practice and Performance, Ecology and Heritage research hubs at Glasgow.