Dr. Joel Chalfen

Biography

Joel Chalfen is a Teaching Associate in the Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge and a Director of Studies at Homerton College. He began his career as a theatre actor and director, training at the Jacques Lecoq School in Paris and at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. In 2004, he established a small arts charity focused on developing theatre projects for schools and community groups. His work led him to the field of Applied Theatre, which he further explored through his MA studies in Theatre Development and ongoing PhD research. His doctoral research, which took place in various museums, deepened his interest in the politics of memory and the heritage of encounters with the past. Chalfen's research encompasses international fieldwork in the Balkans and Russia, often integrating themes of memory and social change within the context of community development and public pedagogy. He has been a faculty member since 2013, primarily convening the undergraduate Drama programme.

Research Interests

Experience