Profiles
Dr John Matthews
Associate Head of School for Theatre, Dance, Music, Creative Writing, English
School of Society and Culture (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business)
Biography
Biography
An Associate Professor in Theatre, John's first professional role was in BBC Film Drama while still a schoolboy in South Wales and his most recent parts have been on BBC Radio, where he voiced Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury in John Nettles' production of Sir Walter Raleigh. John is recognised internationally for his research in the field of training and, as well journal articles and edited collections he has authored three acclaimed books on the subject. John was the inaugural Research Fellow of the Stanislavski Centre and was a recipient of an AHRC Leadership Fellowship. Awarded his PhD by University of Surrey, John holds a First Class honours degree from University of London, where he was awarded the Prize for Excellence in the Field of Drama as an undergraduate.
Qualifications
PhD, Roehampton, University of Surrey
Supervisors: Professors Alan Read, Adrian Kear, Joe Kelleher, and Reader Simon Bayly
Examiners: Professor Adrian Heathfield and Reader Martin Welton
BA (Hons) First Class, Goldsmith College, University of London
University of London Prize for Excellence in the Field of Drama
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
John is currently supervising PhDs in the areas of acting, training, embodiment, disability and emergent technology in training practices.
Staff serving as external examiners
John has served as an External Examiner for programmes at UK HEI as well as for PhD level students at University of London. He has served on QQA Audit panels and validation events in addition to writing new programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Research
Research
Research interests
John's research interests include acting and training theory and practice as well as philosophy of performance. His most recent published work has focused on performance ontology and the role of temporality in training, and his most recent funded research projects have been in virtual, immersive and wearable technology in and for actor training.
Other research
John has published on the subject of ethics in performance and his co-edited collection, A Life of Ethics and Performance, is now available in a second paperback edition.
Grants & contracts
Creative practice & artistic projects
John's most recent artistic project has been for a BBC radio 4 xtra production about the journey of the Pilgrim Fathers on the Mayflower from Plymouth to America
Publications
Publications
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
JournalsPersonal
Personal
Reports & invited lectures
‘HEART’, radio broadcast of a public lecture on Resonance FM
‘BODY OF WORK’ a five part, week long series of ‘lunchtime lectures at The Old Operating Theatre Museum, London
‘ANATOMY: JOHN MATTHEWS IN CONVERSATION WITH DAWN KEMP’, Centre of the Body, University of London
'THE SIGNIFICANCE OF STRESS IN DRAMA SCHOOL TRAINING’ Research Seminars on Theory, Practice & History of Performance at Goldsmiths University of London
‘TRAINING IN THE CLINIC, THE CLOISTER AND THE STUDIO’, Spirituality, Education and Exegesis Lecture Series at Liverpool Hope University
‘ASKEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS’, How To Act, international conference at Central School of Speech and Drama
‘THE BODY IN THE MAGIC BOX’ The Centre of Theatre Research in Europe at Roehampton University
‘INSCRIBING THE PALIMPSEST FLESH’ The Changing Body Symposium, international conference at Exeter University
Conferences organised
Material Engagements Conference, British Library Sound Archive, Dec06 – May 07, Co-organiser
Other academic activities
John reviews proposals and manuscripts for Bloomsbury, Methuen Drama and Palgrave MacMillan publishing houses as well as peer reviewing papers for Theatre, Dance and Performance Training and the Stanislavski Studies journal.
Additional information
John enjoys open water swimming in the beautiful Plymouth Sound, and cycling to work.