Wild Theatre: Tasmanian Performance at the Edge

About the research project

Tasmania leans into being ‘wild’: from the stunning but unforgiving natural wilderness to its provocative arts festivals and events, the island embraces wilderness and the wild as a cornerstone of its identity. Theatre, however, is often understood and approached as a ‘cultured’ medium, which is to say, codified, domesticated and governed by both convention and etiquette. This project invites proposals that explore how theatre might embrace the ‘wild’, across the varied and complex uses of this term.  

What wild ingredients might be gathered from, or built in Lutruwita? How could theatre reclaim a sense of being ‘wild’, unexpected, out of control, surprising and dangerous? Unpopular, risky, conveying difficult truths or social histories? Theatre doesn't fix this unruliness and wildness, it hosts it.  

Possible topics or areas of study include: 

Wild, animated, or provocative stories and the ethics, aesthetics and impacts of telling them. 

Existing wild theatre practices in Tasmanian communities, local cultures and practices of making theatre.  

Unruly or wild theatre as a democratic culture.  

Breaking or changing theatre conventions and etiquette to imagine new ways of doing and being together.  

Working in the wild, collaborating with the natural world or working off the ‘beaten track’. 

Wild displays of passion, exuberance, and emotion by audiences and performers. 

Staging ‘unwilding’ or ‘rewilding’ as an engagement with climate change and species extinction. 

Wild methods and processes, drawing on ecological paradigms or embracing unexpected, out of control, surprising and risky techniques.

Candidates will work with supervisory teams formed in response to your project proposal and based on the research expertise within the school. Dr Jane Woollard is the primary point of contact for this project

Primary supervisor

Meet Doctor Karen Hall

Funding

Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:

• a living allowance stipend funded by University of Tasmania of $34,315 per annum for 3.5 years (PhD) or 2 years (Master by Research)
• a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
• a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)

A tuition fee offset may be offered to eligible international applicants following competitive assessment 

As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.

Other funding opportunities and fees

For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees for undertaking a research degree, please visit our Scholarships and fees on research degrees page.

Eligibility

Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.

Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.

Selection criteria

The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.

Application process

1. Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
2. Contact Doctor Karen Hall to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
3. In your application:
   • Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
   • Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
4. Apply prior to 1 October 2026.

Full details of the application process can be found under the ' How to apply ' section of the Research Degrees website.

Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.

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