The Society for Theatre Research

27/02/2026

Reminder: Applications for our Research Grants are OPEN!

Is there an element within your research topics that deals with an aspect of the British theatre which would make it eligible? Topics we can consider include buildings, people, historical or contemporary concerns, theories and practices, and all kinds of performance arts, as long as there is a c***ection with theatre in Britain or British theatre people. We invite all engaged in theatre research to apply – for example you may be an early career academic needing help with a particular piece of research, or an independent scholar digging up traces of local theatre or performers, in which case the Research Grants would be suitable for you, or a theatre practitioner engaged in practical research on an aspect of performance practice, in which case you might apply for one of our Practitioner Grants.
There are two types of Grants offered:
Research grants: for scholars investigating aspects of the British theatre requiring access to archives, collections, specific sites or people, or help with compiling and disseminating original research. These grants are available for academic and non-academic researchers alike, though the standard of work expected will be equivalent to post-graduate level. Grants range between £200 and about £600 as contributions to the cost of research.
Practitioner research and development grants: a number of grants of £200 each will be awarded to support those practitioners who are working in the UK to facilitate British and British-related theatre projects. These grants are a development of the programmes we started during Covid to support practitioners. Note this programme opens and closes a week after the Research Grants.
All criteria, application forms and closing date information can be found on the Research Grants pages.
Please make sure you apply for the appropriate programme. We will not consider simultaneous applications to both programmes and reserve the right to transfer applications between them.

News Share 18 January 2026 / Grants and Awards Research Awards – applications now open Is there an element within your research topics that deals with an aspect of the British theatre which would make it eligible? Topics we can consider include buildings, people, historical or contemporary concern...

23/01/2026

A reminder that tomorrow is our next free lecture, 'Reclaiming mime from the condescension of posterity' at 7:30pm on 24 January! Please note: for all online viewers - the lecture will be audio only due to copyright restrictions on images.

Events Share 24 January 2026 / Events ‘Reclaiming mime from the condescension of posterity’ (IN-PERSON BOOKINGS) This talk will be presented in the form of a performative conversation around the themes, ideas, perceptions, contexts, personalities, histories and controversies enshrined in the rec...

19/01/2026

Join us for our next free lecture, 'Reclaiming mime from the condescension of posterity' at 7:30pm on 24 January 2026!
Book for a free ticket in person or online!

Events Share 24 January 2026 / Events ‘Reclaiming mime from the condescension of posterity’ (IN-PERSON BOOKINGS) This talk will be presented in the form of a performative conversation around the themes, ideas, perceptions, contexts, personalities, histories and controversies enshrined in the rec...

19/01/2026

Research Awards – applications now open!

Is there an element within your research topics that deals with an aspect of the British theatre which would make it eligible? Topics we can consider include buildings, people, historical or contemporary concerns, theories and practices, and all kinds of performance arts, as long as there is a c***ection with theatre in Britain or British theatre people. We invite all engaged in theatre research to apply – for example you may be an early career academic needing help with a particular piece of research, or an independent scholar digging up traces of local theatre or performers, in which case the Research Grants would be suitable for you, or a theatre practitioner engaged in practical research on an aspect of performance practice, in which case you might apply for one of our Practitioner Grants.

There are two types of Grants offered:

Research grants: for scholars investigating aspects of the British theatre requiring access to archives, collections, specific sites or people, or help with compiling and disseminating original research. These grants are available for academic and non-academic researchers alike, though the standard of work expected will be equivalent to post-graduate level. Grants range between £200 and about £600 as contributions to the cost of research.

Practitioner research and development grants: a number of grants of £200 each will be awarded to support those practitioners who are working in the UK to facilitate British and British-related theatre projects. These grants are a development of the programmes we started during Covid to support practitioners. Note this programme opens and closes a week after the Research Grants.

All criteria, application forms and closing date information can be found on the Research Grants pages.

Please make sure you apply for the appropriate programme. We will not consider simultaneous applications to both programmes and reserve the right to transfer applications between them.

Is there an element within your research topics that deals with an aspect of the British theatre which would make it eligible? Topics we can consider include buildings, people, historical or contemporary concerns, theories and practices, and all kinds of performance arts, as long as there is a c***e...

16/12/2025

Join us tomorrow night for a festive performance of 'Marie Lloyd Stole My Life'!

Events Share 17 December 2025 / Events Performance: Marie Lloyd Stole My Life (IN-PERSON BOOKINGS) Maggie Collins Annual Lecture Marie Lloyd Stole My Life by J.J. Leppink Scandal, stardom, and song! Nelly Power was a real life, trailblazing performer of the 19th century, who struck an early blow for...

22/11/2025

Join us for our Christmas lecture on 17th December - a performance of Marie Lloyd Stole My Life!

Events Share 17 December 2025 / Events Performance: Marie Lloyd Stole My Life (IN-PERSON BOOKINGS) Maggie Collins Annual Lecture Marie Lloyd Stole My Life by J.J. Leppink Scandal, stardom, and song! Nelly Power was a real life, trailblazing performer of the 19th century, who struck an early blow for...

22/11/2025

All change – a New Team on the Society’s Book Prize!

News Share 10 November 2025 / Theatre Book Prize All change – a New Team on the Society’s Book Prize image: last year’s Book Prize was won by ‘Straight Acting’ by Will Tosh, seen here with judges Lucy Munro, Tricia Thorns, and Gary Naylor, together with Howard Loxton (on the right) As Howa...

26/10/2025

https://www.str.org.uk/product/revival-of-a-musical-in-conversation-with-annabel-mutale-reed/

Join us for our next lecture on Thursday 30th October 2025:

Revival of a Musical: In Conversation with Annabel Mutale Reed

Annabel will be discussing her work on the revival of Alain Boubil and Claude-Michel Schὅnberg’s much-loved musical Martin Guerre, first produced by Cameron Mackintosh in the West End in 1996. She will discuss aspects of the revival process and her role in developing its creative vision. How can reviving an iconic musical preserve the integrity of the original and embrace fresh interpretations? What are the challenges in keeping the integrity of the original and appealing to a new audience?

This lecture will be held online - Zoom link on our website.

05/10/2025

Join the Frank Matcham Society for the annual European Historic Theatres Day on 25th October!

Details below:

https://www.str.org.uk/european-historic-theatres-day-free-lecture-20th-october/