Graduating PhD student Caroline Heim may be a theatre expert, but she’s often more interested in observing what happens off the stage than on it.
For her doctorate in drama, Dr Heim has undertaken research in the area of audience-orientated criticism. She is the first candidate to complete a UQ PhD in performance and research, a new degree developed by Professor Joanne Tompkins.
“Performance as research stands at the interface of theatre scholarship and practice. It engages with creative issues raised in performances across the spectrum of the arts. It acknowledges the research value of performances as sites for academic engagement,” Dr Heim said.
Through her postgraduate studies in the School of English, Media and Art History (EMSAH), Dr Heim has developed a new model for facilitation of post-performance discussions.
“Over the past century the audience role in the theatrical event has changed from vital critic and co-creator to passive receiver of the drama. Contemporary audiences desire to play a more participatory role: they want more from the theatrical event than just entertainment,” Dr Heim said.
“My post-performance model differs from other models that are usually run by experts or arts professionals for the purposes of education.”
Dr Heim said television shows that encouraged viewers to vote by phone or head online to discuss their thoughts had shown the way in audience interaction.
“I am interested in engaging with the study and practice of drama in performance and in theory – particularly the audience/stage relationship and the power of theatre to affect change in audiences,” Dr Heim said.
“My model privileges the voice of the audience and values their critical opinions so that audiences are more involved as co-creators of the arts event rather than participating merely as spectators.”
The study marks the first time that the post-performance expert-driven discussion model, used by all mainstream theatre companies in the western world, has been properly examined.
“Theatre, more than any other art form, is often considered the voice of the current generation and its issues,” Dr Heim said.
“Post-performance discussions that value the audience’s opinions have the potential to create a theatre event that has a vital voice in society. My model privileges the theatre audience as critical contributors”.
During her research, Dr Heim facilitated post-performance discussions after performances of The Miracle Worker: the story of Helen Keller, at the Brisbane Powerhouse.
During these, audience members were able to consider the difficulties of living with disabilities. Through sharing their stories, they discussed how changes in the perception of disabled peoples needed to take place in society.
“Audience members who took part in the discussions left the performance much richer for the experience," she said.
Dr Heim said being part of a supportive community of academics from a wide range of backgrounds and interests was one of the highlights of her time at UQ.
"I will continue to use the performances of my theatre company, Crossbow Productions, as research material for academic publications, and am hoping that through facilitating these audience discussions nationally and internationally that I will have more of a voice in Australian drama to facilitate change.”
Dr Heim will receive her doctorate at the 2pm Arts and SBS ceremony on December 14. Joining her will be graduates from EMSAH and the schools of Journalism and Communication, Languages and Comparative Cultural Studies and Music.
Media: Dr Heim (0419 469 772) or Dania Lawrence (07 3365 9163, d.lawrence@uq.edu.au)
