Congratulations to Central’s Dr Broderick Chow, Reader and Director of Learning, Teaching and Inclusion, who has been appointed Chair-elect of the Theatre and Performance Research Association (TapRA). 

Appointed as Chairs-elect alongside Broderick are Dr Rachel Hann (Senior Lecturer, Northumbria University) and Dr Royona Mitra (Professor, Brunel University London) who also sits on Central’s Independent Equity Committee.  

The Theatre & Performance Research Association (TaPRA) was formed by a group of senior academics in theatre and performance eager to promote the growth of research in the field by fostering a co-operative and collaborative ethos that would benefit postgraduate students, early career researchers and provide a platform for everyone interested in sharing the diverse discoveries of the discipline.  Since its first conference in 2004, TaPRA has grown from a handful of working groups to over 400 members both within the UK and abroad.  Its annual conference is hosted in the Autumn and is, each year, hosted at a different University. TaPRA is always looking for new ways to encourage excellence in research and to that end currently awards prizes to recognises work at every career stage. TaPRA also works closely with SCUDD and other cognate organisations to respond to and guide government policy and funding in the field. 

Dr Broderick Chow said: 

“I am honoured to be appointed to Chair TaPRA in coalition with my friends and colleagues Royona and Rachel. TaPRA was one of the first ever academic conferences I attended in 2009. Since then, I have been a convenor of the Bodies and Performance Working Group, and more recently I have served on the Executive Committee as Research Officer: Development and Public Engagement. TaPRA has been such a formative organization for my academic career and I am excited to guide it into the future.” 

The TaPRA Executive Committee expressed its: 

“Excitement – for both TaPRA and the theatre and performance research community more broadly in the UK and internationally – at this fresh approach to leadership by long-standing TaPRA members and experienced scholars. We are looking forward to the organisation’s evolution during its next chapter.” 

The Chairs-elect will begin their tenure immediately following TaPRA’s Annual General Meeting in September. Professor Roberta Mock (Executive Dean, Royal Holloway, University of London) will remain Chair of TaPRA until then, at which point she will become a member of the Executive Committee in the role of Immediate Past Chair for the period of one year.