Dr Richard Talbot

Richard’s research interests include immersive and participatory strategies for experimental performance in community, heritage and education contexts. His AHRC-funded PhD investigated the figure of the clown and laughter.

He collaborated on the Manchester University's AHRC Performance Learning and Heritage Project (2006-2009). A recent practice-as-research project, funded by the Leverhulme Trust, investigated memories of compulsory school sport and contrasting notions of "discipline" in performance. He is Joint Artistic Director of Triangle Theatre Company and regularly collaborates with leading experimental companies, most recently on Ridiculusmus new show Total Football (National Theatre of Scotland/Barbican Theatre).

A Vice Chancellor’s Early Career Scholarship has allowed him to engage in interdisciplinary research between the Performance Directorate and the School of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work, investigating the practice and ethics of performing care. An interim workshop was presented in collaboration with Dave Garbutt, Professor Martin Johnson and Natalie Yates-Bolton of the School of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work at the HUROPEL International Erasmus Funded Workshop programme between 4 -15  April 2011: "Human Rights, Older People and End of Life Care" further expanded for the Medical Interventions panel (Performing Care) at Health Acts: Applied Theatre, Health, and Well-being in April 28-30 at the Department of Drama, University of Exeter. A joint paper with Dr Debbie Roberts, Reader in Nursing, Wrexham University was Learning to Act Like a Nurse was shortlisted for the Elsevier Best Paper in Healthcare education prize.

He is currently working in collaboration with Barnaby King (Northwestern University, USA) and 6 international academics and performers on an online adaptation of Euripides’ Iphigenia at Aulis. Ugly Scenes which  was first presented at Performance Studies International (Psi18), Leeds, 27 June-1 July 2012 as a durational "Porous Shift" on economies of performance, and clowning.

Current Performance Projects:

Ridiculusmus The Family Show (June 2012) Role: Development work June 2012. Touring Theatre about Mental Health (in development) National Theatre Studio/Barbican. Funded by Arts Council.

Producer/Dramaturg: Between You & Me The Lowry/Ordsall Hall, 20-21  October 2012, a site-specific exploration of characterisation, the grotesque and performative writing in the "Newgate Novels" of the 1840s (principally those of Charles Dickens and his friend, the Manchester author, Harrison Ainsworth.) This is developed in collaboration with director Carran Waterfield which began with The Feast, in June 2012 presented at the Festival of Media Music & Performance (available online at www.triangletheatre.co.uk - see "Media" page.)