Tom Nicholas

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College: College of Humanities
Discipline: Drama
Department: Department of Drama

I am a PhD Researcher in the Department of Drama at the University of Exeter. My current research focuses on representations of regional English cities in contemporary theatre and is funded by the College of Humanities and AHRC Scholarship.

After seven years working in the theatre industry, I re-engaged with academia in 2015, undertaking an MA in Theatre Practice here at the University of Exeter for which I was awarded a Distinction.

During this time, my article Adapting from the Internet: Cultural Adaptation in Tim Price’s Teh Internet is Serious Business was published in Intellect’s Journal of Arts Writing by Students. A further-developed version of my dissertation Morality, Dialectics and Programme: Political Agency in post-2010 political theatre was presented at the GMB's Liberating Arts Festival in August 2017.

As a playwright, I have been commissioned by Paines Plough, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Exetreme Imagination and The Bike Shed Theatre. My previous work includes Static (2013, 2014), Parliament Town (2014), Foundations (2016) and Happiness Ltd (2017-2018). Directing credits include April (2013-2013), Ensuite (2014) The Genius (2015), A Doll's House (2016) and Product  (2016). Alongside my work being consistently supported by organisations such as Theatre Royal Plymouth, Barbican Theatre, The Bike Shed Theatre and Salisbury Playhouse, I have also received considerable support and investment in my work from Arts Council England.

I have also played a significant role in the development of theatre in my hometown of Plymouth. From 2014-2016, I curated Outpost, a three-week pop-up theatre season taking place in the city's historic Royal William Yard. I also co-founded the now Plymouth Fringe Festival (2015 onwards) which showcases some of the most exciting small-scale theatre work from across the UK alongside emerging talent from the South West each May.

I also have a strong track record as a Workshop Facilitator and have planned and delivered projects with diverse groups of all ages including young people with additional needs, refugees and asylum seekers and individuals at risk of social exclusion due to substance abuse and mental health problems. I continue to regularly deliver workshops for both Theatre Royal Plymouth and Bristol Old Vic.

Alongside leading seminars on both undergraduate and taught postgraduate at the University of Exeter, I have also taught sessions as a Guest Lecturer at Plymouth University and University of Gloucestershire.