Professor Dr. Aqeel Abdulla

Biography

Aqeel Abdulla joined King's College London as a lecturer in Culture, Media, and Creative Industries in 2021, with a specific focus on participatory community arts, social activism, and intangible cultural heritage. He holds a PhD in Drama from the University of Exeter, where he taught in the Drama Department for five years prior to joining King's. Abdulla is an active community theater practitioner based in South West London and serves as the Deputy Director of King’s Sanctuary Programme, which focuses on providing education to individuals affected by conflict and displacement. His research interests include performance studies, community-engaged arts, and issues of diaspora and postcolonial feminism. As a founder and director of Yalla Arts, a community arts company, and a trustee of Documental Theatre, he works extensively in the field of cultural engagement and public outreach. Abdulla has made contributions to several academic publications, with a focus on the experiences of marginalized communities and the role of arts in social change.

Research Interests