Professor Dr. Jennifer Hughes

Biography

Jennifer Hughes is a Professor of Drama at the University of Manchester, based in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures. Her research interests encompass the relationship between theatre and poverty, economic justice, and performance activism. Hughes has a background as a theatre practitioner working within the criminal justice system and non-mainstream education. She has held various research posts that focused on applied theatre and mental health initiatives, including leading projects with the National Association of Youth Theatres and Wellcome Trust. She was a Research Associate on the award-winning Place and War project from 2004 to 2007, and later, she became a Lecturer at the University of Manchester. Among her notable projects is the AHRC-funded research initiative 'Creative Towns', which aims to engage communities in discourse about the civic role of theatres. Hughes has published several works, including edited collections, journal articles, and has contributed to various academic journals addressing contemporary theatre and its societal impacts. She serves on the editorial board of RIDE: Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance and is an active voice in the advocacy for theatre in socio-economic contexts.

Research Interests