Biographical summary

Paul's teaching and research addresses a range of approaches to performance, including theatre in museums and galleries, new writing, science and theatre, and theatre and philosophy. His PhD thesis was on the use of science in finding a way to write about contemporary performance. He is currently working on a series of projects with Jasmin Vardimon Company.

Paul has taught on Drama programmes at four institutions and been involved in the validation or revalidation of six programmes (five BA and two MA). He received an ‘Awarding Excellence’ Teaching and Learning Award in 2007 and has also been involved in developing a range of approaches to online learning in Drama.

Paul was Vice-Chair of SCUDD (from 2007 - 2010), the body which represents the interests of Drama, Theatre and Performing Arts in the Higher Education sector in the UK, and is the Departmental Representative.

Teaching responsibilities

• BA Drama and Performance Module Leader for 6SW001 Professional Project and 5SW001 Research, Interpretation and Analysis. Currently teaching on 6DR004 Employability and Enterprise: Production and Performance.
• MA Drama Module Leader for 7SW002 Advanced Research Methods, 7SW001 Advanced Contextual Studies and 7DR003 Performance: Philosophy and Ethics.
• PhD and MA Dissertation Supervision.

Non-teaching responsibilities

• School Quality Enhancement Committee
• Cluster Leader Creative Processes in the Performing Arts Research Group
• School Board
• Head of Departments’ Committee

Research interests

• Applied theatre, particularly theatre in heritage and museums and theatre in science education
• Interdisciplinary approaches to performance, such as science and philosophy
• Experimental performance in Europe and the USA 
• Off-off Broadway plays and playwrights

Paul is currently supervising a number of PhD students in these or related areas, and welcomes applications from prospective students.

Qualifications

• PhD (Coventry)
• MA (Hons) Physics and Theatre Studies (Glasgow)
• PGCert Learning and Teaching in HE (Wolverhampton)

Employment History

• September 2004 – August 2010 Lecturer/Senior Lecturer, University of Wolverhampton, Course Leader for BA and MA Drama courses
• September 2002 – June 2004: Lecturer in Contemporary Theatre, Brooksby Melton College (De Montfort University),
• August 2001 – August 2002: Research Assistant, Centre for Applied Theatre Research, University of Manchester 
• August 1998 – August 2001: Research Studentship University of Worcester 
• September 1992 – September 1994: Arts (Drama) Coordinator, Ladywood Youth and Community Services 

In addition, Paul has undertaken  professional work as writer and director, including A Brief History of Time at the Tramway, Glasgow with Vanishing Point Theatre (2000, 2002),

Looking for the Angel in Flight at The Tron, Glasgow and Capitol Theatre, Manchester (1999, 2001), and most recently a science education play On the Beach at the Arena Theatre (2011). Paul has also worked as a script reader both for the Literary Department of the Birmingham Rep and SCRIPT, the West Midlands agency for dramatic writing.

External Expert for curriculum modifications University of East London (2010)

External Examiner BA Drama De Montfort University 2009 -

External Examiner MA by Independent Study De Montfort University 2007 -

Publications and conference papers

Publications/reports

• Johnson, Paul (2012) Quantum Theatre: Science and Contemporary Performance Newcastle: CSP.
• Johnson, Paul (2010) ‘The space of ‘museum theatre’: a framework for performing heritage’ in Jackson, A and Kidd, J. (Eds.) Performing Heritage: Research, practice and innovation in museum theatre and live interpretation  Manchester: Manchester University Press.
• Johnson, Paul (2010) 'Applying Popper: An evolutionary approach to performance' in Meyer-Dinkgräfe, D and Watt, D. (Eds)Ethical Encounters: Boundaries of Theatre, Performance and Philosophy  Newcastle: CSP.
• Johnson, Paul (2010) 'Art or Honesty? Breaking the rules of the game with immersive museum theatre' in Townley, B. & Beech, N. (Eds) The Discipline of Organizing Creativity: Exploring the Paradox Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Johnson, Paul (2009) 'Knickers and Vests Pilot Project Evaluation' (30p.)
• Johnson, Paul (2008) ‘Making it up as we go along: Construction of Narrative in Immersive Museum Theatre’ in The Narrative Practitioner Conference Proceedings 2007  Wrexham: Glyndwr University.
• Johnson, Paul (2007) ‘Who is the Tallyman? Identity, family history and quantum mechanics in the work of Triangle Theatre’’ inTriangle’s Work in Times of War (DVD)
• Johnson, Paul (2007) ‘How to Scare the Curator and the Audience: A new Model for Museum Theatre?’ in Triangle’s Work in Times of War (DVD)
• 'Executive Summary' of ‘Seeing it for Real’ reprinted in Toimijoiden Toreilla (journal of the Finnish Drama/Theatre & Education Association). Helsinki: FIDEA, Spring 2003.
• Jackson, Anthony and Johnson, Paul ‘Performing Arts and the Wellcome Trust: a report into the use of the performing arts in engaging young people with issues related to biomedical science, in order to inform a new young people's performing arts initiative by the Wellcome Trust’ (2002) (42p.) Report accepted by the Trust in Sept. 2002 and a new £250,000 grant-aid scheme for professional and non-professional performing arts projects & productions, "Pulse", established on the lines proposed in the report, was launched in November 2002.
• Jackson , Anthony, Johnson, Paul, Rees Leahy, Helen, Walker , Verity, (2002), Seeing it for Real: An Investigation into the effectiveness of theatre and theatre techniques in museums University of Manchester CATR.

Papers presented

• ‘Remembering/remaking: Jasmin Vardimon Company’s Yesterday’ Theatre and Performance Research Association Conference (Kingston University, UK) 2011
• ‘“You can’t f___ memories or get cash for them”: Reinventing memory in the plays of Tom Eyen’ Performance Studies International (Utrecht University, Netherlands) 2011
• 'Aristotle and the idea of theatre' Theatre and Performance Research Association Conference (University of Glamorgan, UK) 2010
• 'Fiction, history and risk: a framework for performing heritage' Performing Heritage: Research and Practice Conference (University of Manchester, UK) 2008
• ‘Applying Popper: An Evolutionary Approach to Performance’ Theatre and Performance Research Association Conference (University of Birmingham, UK) 2007
• ‘Object and Truth: Transformation of Consciousness in Immersive Museum Theatre’ International Federation of Theatre Research Conference (University of Stellenbosch, South Africa) 2007
• ‘Making it up as we go along: Construction of Narrative in Immersive Museum Theatre’ Narrative Practitioner Conference (NEWI, Wrexham, UK) 2007
• ‘Art or honesty? Breaking the rules of the game with immersive museum theatre’ (Institute for Capitalising on Creativity AHRC/ESRC Workshops The Discipline of Creativity: Exploring the Paradox, Dundee, UK) 2007
• ‘New writing at the Birmingham Rep: New Voices for a New City?’ The Glory of the Garden: Regional Theatre Since 1980 (Liverpool JMU, UK) 2006
• ‘Santa Claus and the bit player: Camp in two plays by Tom Eyen’ Transversalities Conference (University of Reading, UK) 2005
• ‘Play, Performance and Quantum Mechanics’ Theatres of Science Conference (University of Glamorgan, UK) 2004
• ‘What is science theatre?’ Association of Science Education (University of Birmingham, UK) 2003
• Team presentation on findings from the ‘theatre in museums’ research project International Federation of Theatre Research (Amsterdam, Netherlands) 2002
• Preliminary findings from the ‘theatre in museums’ research project International Museum Theatre Alliance (London, UK) 2001
• ‘Carran Waterfield’s Millennophobia Project: time, space and ritual theatre’ International Federation of Theatre Research (Lyon, France) 2000

Research Funding

• 2012 HEA Research Workshop Funding for Jasmin Vardimon Symposium (£1500)
• 2011 Central Youth Theatre Evaluation of Everybody Dance Now International Festival (£4500)
• 2009 Triangle Theatre Evaluation of Knickers and Vests Pilot Project (£1500)
• 2008/9 Institute of Learning Enhancement Research Project ‘Online learning to develop engagement, critical thinking and reflection in Drama’ (£2000)
• 2008 CeLT Phase 1 L+T Research Project ‘Encouraging theoretical engagement with performance practice through on-line assessment.’ (£2000)
• 2006/7 ERAS Research Fellowship to develop work on Immersive Museum Theatre (£5000)
• 2002: Awarded Research Grant by the Wellcome Trust to research the current and potential uses of the performing arts in developing awareness among young people of new developments and issues in bio-medicine and bio-technology, in order to inform the planning of a new programme of performing arts grant-aid by the Trust. May - September 2002. (£18000) Proposal Co-authored with Anthony Jackson

Membership of professional organisations

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Member of the TaPRA Theatre, Performance and Philosophy working group
• Member of the American Theatre and Drama Society