Research

Our research takes performance as its preferred material for study. For us performance takes many forms, including music, theatre, poetry, dance, film. It may be live, recorded or otherwise mediated, but what interests us most is the ways in which it is always or always becomes social. Our focus so far has been on performance made since the 1970s, but this may change.

It is also historical. We are interested in histories which are variously explored, articulated, hidden and revealed in the performances we study. The histories these performances tell offer resources for thinking differently about the political, economic and social issues with which our research is constantly engaging.

Our work takes many forms, proceeding through dialogue, in relation to commissioned performances, and eventually finding further audiences through publication. In these pages we are also building an inventory of research resources which have informed and guided our work.