Researchers in Residence – Call for Expressions of Interest
In association with the Institute for Social Justice, Theatre Hullabaloo are inviting proposals from York St John academics or PGRs interested in undertaking a funded researcher-in-residence
opportunity with the organisation.
Theatre Hullabaloo is a pioneering organisation that makes, tours and
promotes theatre for young audiences (aged 0-16 years old). Artistic Producer, Miranda Thain, writes of Theatre Hullabaloo:
“Our vision is of a world where art and creativity for children is as brilliant and inspiring as they are and is a fundamental part of everybody’s childhood. Children have a right to art that reflects and challenges their experiences and helps them to understand and make meaning in an increasingly complicated world. We use creativity to support children and the grown-ups in their lives, to have joyful, affirming experiences together that support them to be the best they can be for each other.”
Theatre Hullabaloo is based at The Hullabaloo, a national centre of theatre and creativity for children and families in Darlington, which opened in December 2017. The Hullabaloo is the only venue of its type north of London.
As part of their National Portfolio Organisation funding from Arts Council England, over the next three years Theatre Hullabaloo are working with the Institute for Social Justice to invest in research in terms of deepening practice and influence. Our collaboration is titled Follow the Fascination as a description of both the creative and research imperative to discover and push the boundaries. The Researcher in Residence opportunity is part of this collaboration. The first researcher in residency will take place in autumn 2023, with anticipated further opportunities in 2024 and 2025.
Researcher in Residence
This programme offers funding for a YSJ academic or PGR to undertake a researcher in residence project at Theatre Hullabaloo. The project will be supported by £10,000 in funding, which will enable teaching buyout (for academics) or salary payment (for PGRs) as well as travel expenses to Darlington and some research costs.
There is some flexibility but we would anticipate the residency might entail:
- 2 days a week for 4/5 months between Sept 23-Jan 24.
- 1 day a week for 8 months between Sept 23-April 24
It is expected that the successful candidate would have a physical presence at The Hullabaloo during this period. The Hullabaloo is a three-minute walk from Darlington rail station.
Projects and research are genuinely open and cross-disciplinary, as long as they have a connection to Theatre Hullabaloo’s core interests in creativity, children, young people and families and that have a clear social justice focus. Proposals might come from any academic discipline and be experimental, participatory, creative, collaborative in focus. Theatre Hullabaloo are looking for proposals that help them deepen their practice through research insights and understanding. See below for a list of Theatre Hullabaloo’s current and ongoing activity.
Expressions of Interest
Theatre Hullabaloo and the Institute for Social Justice would like to initial expressions of interest, from which we will select those with potential to develop into full proposals. Expressions of interest should be emailed to v.pugh@yorksj.ac.uk as a word document and include:
- Project title
- Who are you? Up to 250 word personal statement of your research history.
- Project description? 250 word statement of what you would like to explore through the residency.
- Timescale and Resources? Indicate what work pattern you’d propose for the residency and how you would seek to allocate the funding.
All expressions of interest should be accompanied by an email confirming line manager support.
Timescale
29 March 1-2pm – briefing event for potentially interested applicants, if you’d like to attend book here:
20 April – deadline for expressions of interest
Researcher in Residence for autumn 2023 confirmed before end of June.
Outcomes
Outcomes can be as varied as the research, including case studies, papers, creative practice or futher funding applications. However, it all researchers should anticipate that one outcome will be to lead or contribute to a public facing event as Theatre Hullabaloo that engages with an appropriate industry/practice/policy audience.
Theatre Hullabaloo areas of activity and areas of interest include:
- Theatre for children and young people.
- Performance and play in the early years.
- Co-creation of play environments with children.
- Performance and play with neurodiverse children and their families
- Creative play with refugee and asylum seeker children and families.
- Play, creativity and child development.
- Creativity and perinatal mental health.
- Arts and support for parents and carers (including young carers).
- The Hullabaloo and its impact on place and its hyper-local communities.
But also, surprise us!
