|
Programme Director and Senior Lecturer for BA (Hons) Performing Arts, Ms. Meunier trained and worked as a classical singer and performer in Canada before moving to the UK where she trained as a voice & speech practitioner at the Central School of Speech and Drama. She has taught in both conservatoire and Higher Education institutions. As Voice Lecturer at Swansea Met, Ms Meunier teaches voice, speech and text skills to students on the Performing Arts programme. Her vocal and physical work is also strongly informed by her studies with: Meribeth Bunch Dayme, Barbara Houseman, Frankie Armstrong, Roy Hart practitioners, Cicely Berry, the Alexander Technique, Yoga, Pilates, and Qi Gong. A keen enthusiast of many musical styles, Danielle has worked with the likes of Frankie Armstrong, Meredith Monk, Theatr Zar, and The Pilpani Family in Folk, African, Eastern European and Georgian singing styles, and has made frequent forays into the world of Canadian and Scottish folksong. Danielle continues to perform in her spare time.
Research includes an inquiry into singing students' awareness of their spoken voice and the role it plays in the training of their sung voice. This has led to further inquiry into the link between the spoken and sung voices and their developmental relationship, specifically for actor training. Additional interest lies in the development and application of creative vocal sound and song in theatre, voice through the Alexander Technique, voice training for educators, and applying educational psychology & neuroscience to the context of performance training. In addition, Ms. Meunier offers Vocal Management, Communication and Presentation Skills workshops to PGCE students, teachers and lecturers, and continues to perform. She is a certified Natural Voice Practitioner and Core Singing™ Teacher.
Ms. Meunier is a member of The British Voice Association, The Voice Care Network UK, and The National Association of Teachers of Singing. She is a former member of the Board of Directors for Volcano Theatre Co and a current member of the Board of Trustees for the Voice Care Network UK. |
|
|
Senior Lecturer in Performing Arts and Theatre Studies, a professional actor and director having worked in theatres all over the UK as well as France and Poland. Previous practical research has included insight into the creation of universal languages in the process and production of theatre in an interdisciplinary environment. As well as insight into performance training methods linked to both the Stanislavski and Grotowski lineage. For his PhD thesis, Jason is currently investigating the work of the internationally renowned Volcano Theatre Company. When completed Jason's research will provide a detailed documentation and analysis of the work of this unique and acclaimed theatre company. |
|
Before joining the School of Performance and Literature at SMU in 2007 Dr Kene Igweonu was Visiting Lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London where he lectured on the performance studies and contemporary postcolonial theatre modules. Kene was also Surrey County Council Adult and Community Learning Course Tutor for 'Want to be an Actor?' Prior to the aforementioned appointments, Kene was as a Graduate Tutor with the Theatre Arts Department of University of Benin where he lectured on their contemporary dance and theatre making modules.
Kene's interests cover applied theatre, physical theatre and African theatre and performance. Others are cultural and performance theory, contemporary postcolonial theatre, as well as devising and theatre making. His current research and practice focus particularly on somatic practices in performance training, issues of identity in performance and cross-art practices. Kene is currently in the third year of a four year training to qualify as a practitioner of the Feldenkrais Method.
At SMU, Kene teaches a range of practical and theoretical modules at undergraduate level, as well as supervising a number of postgraduate research students. He is the Research and Postgraduate Studies Coordinator for the School of Performance and Literature, and a member of the Faculty of Humanities Research and Postgraduate Committee. Kene is the editor of Perfformio, SMU's eJournal of performing arts, and an editorial advisory board member of Platform, Royal Holloway, University of London's eJournal of theatre and performing arts.
Kene is a member of the African Theatre Association (AfTA) and co-convened its 2007 international conference at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is also a member of the International Federation for Theatre Research (IFTR) and Chairs its African Theatre and Performance Working Group. Kene has presented papers at various national and international conferences and continues to be research active. |
|
Jonathan Morgan, lead tutor in Technical Theatre, joins the team as Technical Theatre lead Tutor and Production Manager. Jon has had extensive experience of theatre production and design over many years in both the commercial and local authority sectors. In addition Jon also has considerable experience of working in the education sector and brings all this expertise to bear on the HND Technical Theatre course which is developing strong professional links with local, national and international venues. Currently Jon is undertaking his MA in Professional Development – Education and Training which is investigating the different approaches adopted by the two cultures. He will have a particular focus on the national skills shortfall of suitably qualified personnel in the field of technical theatre. |
|
Martin Johnson, lecturer in Theatre Practice and Community Arts, joined the team as the latest recruit in October this year. Martin has more years experience as a practitioner in the field of Drama in education than he cares to remember having produced work for such diverse bodies as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, BMW and Swansea Museum. Martin's focus will be on Drama and Theatre as an instrument of social engagement and personal development including Theatre-in-Education, Community Theatre and drama "therapy". He brings reinforcement to the philosophy of the course team that what is being undertaken here at the Met is not a narrow training but a specialist engagement with, and exploration of, the performing arts, with a view to individual and collaborative creativity. |
|
|
|
|
|
