English, Media and Creative Arts

Ian R. Walsh was appointed to Lecturer in Drama and Theatre Studies at NUI Galway in September 2014. He previously worked as a Lecturer in Drama at University College Dublin from 2010 and was Doctoral Scholar at the Drama Studies Centre, UCD in 2006. Ian has also worked professionally as a theatre director, actor, reviewer and arts adminsitrator. 

Academic Biography: Ian was awarded a PhD from University College Dublin in 2010 where he was previously awarded an MA in Anglo-Irish Literature (2003) and a BA Mode 1 English (2001). His PhD was one of the first projects in Ireland to include a practice-as-research component. He has a Certificate in Directing Theatre from NUI Maynooth and has worked as a freelance director of both theatre and opera. He studied Anne Bogart's viewpoints at The Abbey School of Acting and has participated in workshops on Epic theatre, Commedia Dell'Arte, Jacques LeCoq and Shakespearian Verse with a range of international theatre practitioners. 

Research Themes: Ian's research concerns theatre historiography, performance practices and transdisciplinary socially-engaged performance research. Hi work in theatre historiography challenges perceived conceptions and dominant histories of Irish theatre by recovering the work of marginalised theatre artists, institutions and artistic approaches. In addition to the recovery of theatre histories my research is leading in the analysis of performance practices, specifically directing for theatre, scenography and social circus practices. The majority of his ground-breaking research in transdisciplinary socially-engaged performance has been collaborative using mixed-methods to analyse youth and social circus and how its initiatives, pedagogy and practices can promote social wellbeing and inclusivity.

Research Outputs: In addition, two his two monographs Experimental Irish Theatre, After W.B Yeats and Contemporary Irish theatre: Histories and theories co-authored with Charlotte McIvor Ian has published  many solo-authored and co-authored peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters in prestigious publications by top academic presses (including Oxford University Press, Palgrave, Liverpool University Press, Brill Academic Press) edited two book collections and one special issue peer-reviewed journal and co-authored two EU funded research reports. His committed to Open Access publishing so his work is accessible to maximise impact beyond academia. In order to fulfil this goal he has to date published a monograph, co-edited book collection, co-edited special issue journal and a book chapter all as open access. 

Research Innovation: Since 2019 Ian has collaborated with European Universities, Circus Schools and the Caravan Circus Network on competitive funded research projects that have developed the new transdisciplinary area of youth and social circus research and how its performance practices and pedagogy impact social wellbeing. Projects include: Circus ++ that created the first ever curriculum for a European BA in Youth and Social Circus Pedagogy ( Erasmus +); CTF Advanced (Erasmus +) and Wires Crossed: Head Heart Balance (Creative Europe).  He was also successful in securing funding from the YPCE Arts Council of Ireland artist-in-residence scheme Through this scheme Galway Community Circus taught on modules in the BA Early Years Education and Professional Practice, Children¿s Studies, Drama and Theatre Studies. As a result, circus was explored as an interdisciplinary pedagogical tool to promote wellbeing, physical literacy and community building on three degrees where students go on to teach in early years education, primary school education and secondary school education. Ian has been a board member of Galway Community Circus since 2020 and Chair of the Board from 2021-2024 where he led in the development of their 5 year Strategic plan.

Standing: Ian's international and national standing is recognised by invitations to give talks and lectures in Ireland, Germany, Scotland, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Brazil and the United States.  He has been elected three times since 2016 as Representative for Ireland to the Executive of the International Association for the Study of Irish Literature  and voted onto the executive of the Irish Society of Theatre Research (2015-17). 

Ian has been awarded research funding and support from Erasmus +, Creative Europe, Irish Research Council, Arts Council of the Government of Ireland, University of Galway, Fáilte Ireland, the Dutch Research Council (NWO), University College Dublin.
 
He was appointed as External Examiner for BA (HONS) in Drama and Performance, Dundalk Institute of Technology (2020-2023) and for the English, Media and Cultural Studies Degree in IADT Dun Laoghaire in 2018-2021. His expertise was sought for the validation panel for a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre and  BA in Drama and Film Degree at Dundalk Institute of Technology.

Supervision: Ian has had 4 PhD completions under his supervision in the past 10 years with projects that ranged from queering the theatre of W.B Yeats and D'Annunzio, scenography at the Abbey theatre, feminist, site-specific and popular Irish theatre of the 1980s as well as a practice-based research on directing the plays of G.B Shaw. He welcomes doctoral and post-doctoral research proposals in any areas relating to theatre and performance studies and practice-based research, particularly in his three main areas of theatre historiography, performance practices and socially-engaged performance research. 

Theatre Practice: Ian directed Sophie Treadwell's Machinal as the inaugural production of the new O'Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance with University of Galway Theatre Studies students in 2017 and  musical theatre showcase for President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins on the launch of the venue. He later directed An Accidental Death of Anarchist by Dario Fo with Drama and Theatre studies students in 2019. His professional Directing credits include Purple Path to the Poppy Field ( Hora Prima, 2006) and The Magic Flute (2011), Orfeo Ed Eurydice (2010), Riders to the Sea and The Wandering Scholar (2009) all for DLR Glasthule Opera. Speak Truth to Power (2015) International Summer School for Human Rights. Waking the Feminist West New Playwriting Series (2016) as part of The Galway Theatre Festival. Two Stars (2017) for Thoor Ballylee Society and Autumn Gathering Festival. When studying as an undergraduate Ian was elected auditor of Dramsoc UCD 1999/2000. Significant acting credits include The Hour Glass at the Peacock Theatre in 1993 and The Family for BBC/RTE in 1994. Credit as Dramaturg: Portia Coughlan ( Blue Patch Productions, 2008)

Reviewing: He has worked as a Theatre Reviewer for Irish Theatre Magazine and was the General Manager of that publication in 2008. He has also worked as a theatre reviewer and researcher for RTE Radio 1's The Arts Show and Arena as well as a book reviewer for Adare Productions Seoige and O"Shea television programme.