Biography
Since the 1990s, Peter has lectured in Theatre Studies in the School of Culture and Communication (SCC), University of Melbourne. He was coordinator of Theatre Studies (2001-7) and is currently SCC undergraduate studies coordinator. He teaches in the fields of contemporary and avant-garde theatre and performance, Japanese theatre and dramaturgy. He is author of Theorising the Angura Space: avant-garde performance and politics in Japan 1960-2000 (Brill Academic, 2006) and numerous essays, edited voumes and journal articles. He is co-editor of Performance Paradigm journal. Peter was key in developing the Journey to Confusion Project, a research and development collaboration between not yet itýs difficult (NYID) and Japanýs Gekidan Kaitaisha. He co-edited a book on the project titled Alternatives: debating theatre culture in the age of con-fusion, a collection of essays and photographs inspired by the collaboration. Peterýs current research is an Australian Research Council discovery project titled: Revolution and the everyday: performative interactions in art, theatre and politics in 1960s Japan (2008-10). He is also working in a team-project Theatre in the Asia-Pacific: Regional Culture in a Modern Global Context (ARC, 2009-11). He is editing/translating Nippon Wars and Other Plays by Kawamura Takeshi to be published by Seagull Press in 2009. Peter is a key member of the Dramaturgies forum and has developed seminars and workshops for the development of dramaturgical practice. Dramaturgies was awarded Vice Chancellorýs Knowledge Transfer commendation and project grant awards (2008). In 2006-7, he was a recipient of an Australia Council Dramaturgy Fellowship investigating dramaturgy in international contexts. He has extensive international connections and has worked in contemporary arts practice in Australia, Asia and Europe. He coordinated a plenary session on dramaturgy in intercultural contexts for the European Dramaturgy in C21 conference in Frankfurt 2007. The first of writings on this project are: ýTowards an expanded dramaturgical practice: a report on The Dramaturgy and Cultural Intervention Projectý Theatre Research International (Vol. 31. No. 2, 2006) and ýUnmaking ýBlowbackýýaccumulation and disarticulation in NYIDýs rehearsal processý, forthcoming in Making Contemporary Theatre co-edited by Jen Harvie and Andy Lavender (Manchester University Press, 2009). Dr Peter Eckersall is the dramaturge for NYID and is a founding member of the company. NYIDýs contemporary performance and media works are widely known in Australia, Asia and Europe. In 2007-8, NYID will develop new projects in Australia, Korea and Germany. He has been involved with theatre for more than 20 years and has worked as an actor, director, dramaturge, research academic and teacher. As Founding Co-Director of the comedy-art group The Men Who Knew Too Much, Peter was part of the first wave of the outdoor performance scene in Australia and the company went on to work in theatre and festivals nationally and internationally.
Research Expertise and International Linkages
Research Expertise
| Research Interest |
Key Words |
Country of Expertise |
| Theatre and Peformance Studies |
Japanese theatre, contemporary theatre |
Japan, Australia |
International Linkages
Qualifications, Honours, Fellowships and Other
Awards
Qualifications
| Title |
Institution |
Date Awarded |
Abbreviation |
| Bachelor of Education |
Deakin University - Rusden |
31-Dec-1983 |
|
| Master of Arts |
Monash University |
31-Dec-1991 |
|
| Doctor of Philosophy |
Monash University |
31-Dec-1998 |
|
Memberships
| Membership Type |
Membership Body |
Description |
Start Date |
End Date |
| Member |
Performance Studies International |
executive member, chair international committee |
01-May-2006 |
|
| Member |
The Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies |
general member |
01-Jul-1998 |
|
| Member |
Centre for Japanese Studies |
board member |
02-Feb-2005 |
|
Other Awards
| Award Type |
Awarding Body |
Comments |
Date Awarded |
| Other (Award) |
Vice Chancellor's Office |
Knowledge Transfer Award |
14-Aug-2008 |
| Other (Award) |
Australia Council for the Arts |
Dramaturgy Fellowship |
05-Jan-2008 |
Government Research Classifications
Research Fields, Courses and Discipline Classifications
Socio-Economic Objective Classifications
Grants and Contracts
Research Grants, Contracts and Consultancies awarded to the University of Melbourne as the administering institution (since 2003) as recorded in Themis Agreements.
Grants
| Title |
Role |
Funding Source |
Scheme |
Award Date |
| Revolution and the everyday: performative interactions in art, theatre and politics in 1960s Japan |
Chief Investigator |
AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL |
Discovery Projects |
01/01/2008 |
| Theatre in the Asia-Pacific: Regional Culture in a Modern Global Context |
Chief Investigator |
AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL |
Discovery Projects |
01/01/2009 |
Additional Grant and Contract Information
Prior Grants:
Awarded an Australia Council for the Arts Dramaturgy Fellowship, (September 2007 - March 2008).
Current Grants: Australian Research Council discovery project titled: Revolution and the everyday: performative interactions in art, theatre and politics in 1960s Japan (2008-10). Team-project Theatre in the Asia-Pacific: Regional Culture in a Modern Global Context (ARC, 2009-11). Dramaturgies #4: A project for the development of new Dramaturgies in C21. Australia Council of the Arts (2009-10).
Publications
Publications produced at the University of Melbourne and reported in the Annual Publications Collection and 'Research Report' since 2001. The Themis Publications module, released in November 2006, allows additional publications from previous institutions and publications from past years to be entered.
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