The Drama staff at St Mary's University conducts research into Irish theatre, costume and scenic design, contemporary theatre, physical and immersive theatre, verbatim theatre, international theatre directing, and the study of voice.
Current research projects are engaged with costume and scenic design, applied health, community choirs, Irish drama and (more internationally) Theatre for Change projects in collaboration with theatre companies in South Africa and Chile.
Tina Bicat has worked as a designer for theatre companies such Amici, Red Cape and Punchdrunk. Her books include Costume and Design for Devised and Physical Theatre (2012), Puppets and Performing Objects (2007) and Making Costumes (2001).
Kasia Zaremba-Byrne is researching into physical theatre practice with Phillipe Gaulier and Monika Pagneux, is a founder member of the physical theatre company 'New International Encounter' and has been movement director for Complicite
Mark Griffin is researching the future of Drama as a discipline in a university environment and is an advisor on Verbatim theatre for the Educational Department of the National Theatre.
Michelle Paull writes on contemporary and Irish drama and has chapters on Bernard Shaw in Irish Writing London (2012), Sean O'Casey's in Irish Studies in Europe (2015), Enda Walsh in Enda Walsh: Collected Essays (2015) and Dermot Healy in Dermot Healy: Writing the Sky – Critical Essays and Observations (2016).
Trevor Walker is a director who has toured the UK and Europe with his production of Nell Dunn's Cancer Tales. The production has also helped to train doctors and the medical profession in pastoral responses to cancer treatment. Trevor also works for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
PhD students
All research degree students at St Mary’s are part of the Doctoral College.