The School of Performance and Literature (SPL) at Swansea Metropolitan University draws particularly on its strong culture of practice-as-research for its research strategy. Consequently, SPL's strategy work to encourage research outputs that are of an applied nature and/or comprising professional practice. Each staff member in the performance area has a strong background in practice as research and their activities are complimented by developing projects through our links with local charities, performance venues and the internationally renowned professional physical theatre company, Volcano, who are resident in SPL. In addition, staff in the Literature and Film areas of the School have produced a number of publications, both creative and critical, attended seminars and hosted their own conference at the University.

Research Strategy:

SPL continues to work to develop its research profile by building on the strengths of its staff in the areas of practice as research and research publications. Staff in the Centre have published numerous books and articles and have delivered papers and attended many national and international conferences, workshops and symposiums in the disciplines of Performance and Literature.

Since 2004, SPL has worked to strengthen its practice-as-research provision, and to build up capacity by appointing outstanding staff to contribute new areas and as well as promoting collaborative research. Some of the areas that SPL has built up capacity in the past five years includes; Performer Training (including vocal skills development), African American Literature, Applied Performance Practices, Arts Administration and Production Management and Technical Theatre. SPL continues to build on the robust experience and reputation its staff members in the areas of practice-as-research, theatre history, performer training, voice, literature and film to meet its research objectives.

Key objectives of the SPL strategy are to:

• Expand and publish research of national and international standing

• Improve and enrich staff experience of research

• Attain more external research funding

• Increase the number of postgraduate students

• Seek research partnerships with industry and other appropriate bodies

• Expand consultancy and applied research

SPL currently publishes an online journal of performing arts and allied disciplines, Perfformio (http://www.smu.ac.uk/perfformio), and have introduced regular staff-led research seminars, with speakers drawn from within the School, as well as the wider academic community.

Sustainability:

The question of sustainability is one that SPL hopes to address by setting out the following programmes which draws on staff and postgraduate research as the centrepiece of its research strategy:

1. SPL has set aside a research day, once a term, during which staff will present, discuss and evaluative their research activities in a friendly and mutually beneficial seminar/ workshop environment.

2. SPL will continue work to identify and facilitate schemes that will encourage staff to further develop their research profiles by engaging more actively in research and associated activities.

3. SPL has recently developed two new and innovative MA programmes (subject to validation) that draw on its available staff strengths and its relationships with Volcano, local performance venues and organisations.

4. SPL continues to explore available means of increasing its postgraduate research student population through targeted marketing as well as looking at the possibility of offering bursaries as a means of encouraging the development of a vibrant postgraduate community.

Postgraduates:

Staff of SPL have, and are currently supervising a number of postgraduate research (MPhil and PhD) students in the areas of Performance, Literature and Film. In the past, SPL have also run an MA programme in Shakespeare Studies, and currently finalising work on the following two innovative MA programmes;

• MBA (Theatre Management)

• MA in Contemporary Performance Practice (with pathways in Performance Making and Applied Theatre)

In addition to the new MA programmes (subject to validation), SPL continues to offer research degree programmes for well qualified applicants (with either academic qualifications or suitable work experience).

Research degree programmes include:

• Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Before applying formally for one of our research degree programmes, you should first contact the Head of Centre Dr. Richard Knapp ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) to find out more about research in the School, and to discuss you own research ideas.
It is usually possible to undertake your degree either full-time or part-time, and some projects can be carried out in your workplace if the nature of the research is suitable.

Staff participating in this research group includes:
Jon Morgan
Dr. Mary Davies
Dr. Nick Potter
Dr. Richard Knapp
Wendy Hayes-Jones
Jason Benson
Danielle Meunier
Dr. Kene Igweonu