Dr Grant Peterson
Senior Lecturer in Theatre

Summary

I joined Brunel in 2013 and co-founded the musical theatre subject strand and degree pathway courses. I publish work on a range of subjects including British alternative theatre histories, performance and politics, musical theatre, dance, gender, sexuality, and digital research methodologies. I have reviewed manuscripts for Routledge, Methuen Drama (Bloomsbury) and others.

I teach across many of the undergraduate modules and am a supervisor for PhD postgraduate work. I taught previously as a visiting lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London, Bath Spa University, and University of Winchester. I am currently an external examiner for the MA in Drama at the University of South Wales.

I hold experience as a performer in theatre, musical theatre, television, and commercials, having worked in numerous venues across Los Angeles and Southern California. For the solo performance in the West Coast premiere of Johnny Got His Gun in 2003, I received the Backstage Garland Award for Best Actor and the production was nominated for Best Revival by LA Drama Critics Circle and LA Weekly. I trained at the Orange County School of the Arts and formed part of the inaugural cohort of the Ray Bolger Musical Theatre Program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). 

In addition to receiving a BA in theatre and musical theatre at UCLA, I earned an interdisciplinary Masters degree in Critical Studies (focused on experimental theatre and dance) under the guidance of Professor Sue-Ellen Case and Professor David Gere. I received funding from the Higher Education Funding Council of England (Overseas Research Students Awards Scheme) to conduct a PhD project at Royal Holloway University of London under the supervision of Professor Dan Rebellato and Dr. Chris Megson. This resulted in a project that examined British street theatre traditions and presented the first formal case study of one of England’s longest running – yet overlooked – contemporary street theatre troupes, the Natural Theatre Company.

Qualifications

PhD in Drama and Theatre (Royal Holloway, University of London)

MA in Critical Studies in Theatre (University of California, Los Angeles)

BA in Theatre and Musical Theatre (University of California, Los Angeles)