Since the 1990s, Peter has lectured in Theatre Studies in the School of Culture and Communication (SCC), University of Melbourne. He was coordinator of Theatre Studies (2001-7) and is currently SCC undergraduate studies coordinator.
He teaches in the fields of contemporary and avant-garde theatre and performance, Japanese theatre and dramaturgy. He is author of Theorising the Angura Space: avant-garde performance and politics in Japan 1960-2000 (Brill Academic, 2006) and numerous essays, edited voumes and journal articles. He is co-editor of Performance Paradigm journal. Peter was key in developing the Journey to Confusion Project, a research and development collaboration between not yet itýs difficult (NYID) and Japanýs Gekidan Kaitaisha. He co-edited a book on the project titled Alternatives: debating theatre culture in the age of con-fusion, a collection of essays and photographs inspired by the collaboration. Peterýs current research is an Australian Research Council discovery project titled: Revolution and the everyday: performative interactions in art, theatre and politics in 1960s Japan (2008-10). He is also working in a team-project Theatre in the Asia-Pacific: Regional Culture in a Modern Global Context (ARC, 2009-11). He is editing/translating Nippon Wars and Other Plays by Kawamura Takeshi to be published by Seagull Press in 2009. Peter is a key member of the Dramaturgies forum and has developed seminars and workshops for the development of dramaturgical practice. Dramaturgies was awarded Vice Chancellorýs Knowledge Transfer commendation and project grant awards (2008). In 2006-7, he was a recipient of an Australia Council Dramaturgy Fellowship investigating dramaturgy in international contexts. He has extensive international connections and has worked in contemporary arts practice in Australia, Asia and Europe. He coordinated a plenary session on dramaturgy in intercultural contexts for the European Dramaturgy in C21 conference in Frankfurt 2007. The first of writings on this project are: ýTowards an expanded dramaturgical practice: a report on The Dramaturgy and Cultural Intervention Projectý Theatre Research International (Vol. 31. No. 2, 2006) and ýUnmaking ýBlowbackýýaccumulation and disarticulation in NYIDýs rehearsal processý, forthcoming in Making Contemporary Theatre co-edited by Jen Harvie and Andy Lavender (Manchester University Press, 2009). Dr Peter Eckersall is the dramaturge for NYID and is a founding member of the company. NYIDýs contemporary performance and media works are widely known in Australia, Asia and Europe. In 2007-8, NYID will develop new projects in Australia, Korea and Germany. He has been involved with theatre for more than 20 years and has worked as an actor, director, dramaturge, research academic and teacher. As Founding Co-Director of the comedy-art group The Men Who Knew Too Much, Peter was part of the first wave of the outdoor performance scene in Australia and the company went on to work in theatre and festivals nationally and internationally.
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Project Types
3
Research Grant
Scholarly Works
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Honours, Awards and Fellowships
Knowledge Transfer Award
Dramaturgy Fellowship
Credentials
Positions
Honorary
Culture And Communication
Executive Member, Chair International Committee
Performance Studies International
Board Member
Centre for Japanese Studies
General Member
The Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies
Education
Doctor of Philosophy
Monash University
Master of Arts
Monash University
Bachelor of Education
Deakin University - Rusden