Staff Profile

Kate joined Newcastle University in September 2019 as Research Associate (Modern and Contemporary British Theatre and Performance)  to undertake a research project exploring strategies for nurturing risk taking in theatre audiences and artists. 

Kate has combined working across academic roles and creative projects since 2005. Prior to joining Newcastle University, Kate was Senior Lecturer at Northumbria University where she led on the industry focused MA Theatre and Performance programme. Kate also previously worked as Senior Lecturer at Leeds Beckett University.

Education

Kate completed her practice led PhD in 2010 with the title: ‘Collaboration in Performance Practice: Trust, Longevity and Challenging Proximity’ at Northumbria University, Newcastle.

MA Performance, Goldsmiths College, University of London.

MA (Joint Hons.) English Literature and Theatre Studies, University of Glasgow.

External Roles 

Kate is Founder and Festival Director of GIFT: Gateshead International Festival of Theatre, an annual artist-led festival celebrating contemporary theatre. Since 2011, GIFT has presented contemporary, interdisciplinary and international performance work that otherwise would not have a platform in the North East region. Kate works closely with partners including BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and Gateshead Council to deliver GIFT. 

As a theatre maker, Kate has presented her performance work at a range of organisations and festivals across the UK and in multiple international festival contexts.

Kate is a Trustee for ARC, Stockton Arts Centre and The Paper Birds Theatre Company. 

Kate was recipient of the Theatre Fellowship with the Clore Cultural Leadership Programme 2018/19, and undertook a secondment with HOME in Manchester as part of the fellowship. 

Additional information

Recent Invitations as Panellist/Invited Speaker (2019/2020) include:  Edinburgh Festival Fringe; Identitades Festival, Chile; North East Culture Partnership; British Council USA; SparkFest, Bath Spa University; European Festival Academy Atelier; Wor Culture, Newcastle University; Fusebox Festival, Austin; Warwick Arts Centre; SPECTRA Conference, Aberdeen; Fierce Festival, Birmingham.

Advisory and External Examining: North East Artist Development Network Steering Group and mentor, 2014 - ongoing; External Examiner BA (Hons) Contemporary Theatre and Performance, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2015 - 2019; External Examiner MA Creative Producing, Mountview Academy, 2019 – ongoing.

Editorial and Convening: ‘Training Grounds’ co-editor, Theatre, Dance and Performance Training, Routledge, 2009 – 2018; TaPRA Working Group Convenor: Performer Training Working Group, 2016 – 2019.

Conferences and Events as Organiser: Ask the Audience, research project launch, Newcastle University, 2020; Exercise TaPRA annual conference, Exeter University, 2019; Who are you training for?’ TaPRA annual conference, Aberystwyth University, 2018; Training to give Evidence: Performer training for verbatim, documentary, biographical and autobiographical performance, TaPRA symposium interim event, Northumbria University, 2016.

Select Works as Theatre Maker: The Crowd (Work In Progress) Elevator Festival, Live Theatre, Newcastle, 2018; Solojuntos, ACT Festival, Bilbao and touring, 2014; The GB Project, critically acclaimed solo show produced in association with Northern Stage, Edinburgh Fringe and touring, 2013-2014; Action Relay, New Bridge Project Gallery, Newcastle, 2011; Hand Me Down, Fringe First nominated solo show, Edinburgh Fringe and touring, 2008 – 2011; Wish you were Here ACT Festival Bilbao, 2010; Virtual Jukebox, Wunderbar Newcastle, Arnolfini Bristol, Dublin Fringe, 2009 –2011.