Theatre about Science

Andrea Brunello

Independent researcher, playwright, director and actor, Andrea has a Ph.D. in Physics. He works at the boundary between theatre and science, creating original works that have been performed all over Europe and beyond. He is the co-founder and director of Jet Propulsion Theatre.

Carina Bartleet

Carina studied the Biological Sciences at Oxford University before moving to Drama for her postgraduate study. She has a PhD in Intertextuality and the work of dramatist, Sarah Daniels. Her research interests combine her twin loves of the theatre and science and she specialises in exploring the intersections between the natural sciences and theatre with especial focus on the biological sciences, the climate crisis, medicine and malady and the theatre and theatre and gender. Carina has guest edited two special editions of Interdisciplinary Sciences Reviews on new directions in theatre and science and published in The Cambridge Companion to Science and Science (edited by Kirsten Sherpherd-Barr, 2020) and a chapter on ‘Theater and Performance’ in Iris van der Tuin (ed.), Gender: Nature, Macmillan Reference USA (2016). As well as an introduction to a new (2021) edition of Sarah Daniels’ Neaptide.

Carla Almeida

Science communicator and researcher at the Museu da Vida, science museum of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), in Brazil, where she works in the areas of public engagement with science; science, media and society; and science-theatre. Almeida teaches on Fiocruz’s Diploma Course in Communication and Popularization of Science and on the Master’s in Communication of Science, Technology and Health. She is co-author of the books Cordel e Ciência: A Ciência em Versos Populares, Ciência em Cena: Teatro no Museu da Vida and Science & Theatre: Communicating Science and Technology with Performing Arts.

Carlos Fiolhais

Full professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Coimbra since 2000. Author of more than 60 books and numerous scientific, pedagogical and dissemination articles. He is the recipient of several National awards. Former director of the General Library of the University of Coimbra, the Knowledge area at the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation and the Rómulo – Ciência Viva Center at the University of Coimbra. Current director of the Ciência Aberta collection from book publisher Gradiva.

Daniel Gamito-Marques

Research Fellow at the Interuniversity Centre for the History of Science and Technology (CIUHCT). Historian of the connections between science and colonialism in Africa (19th-20th cent.). Works as a professional playwright and dramaturge since 2016. Explores the use of historical knowledge of the sciences in theatre.

Joana Lobo Antunes

Head of Communication at Instituto Superior Técnico. Lecturer in Science Communication and Social Media for Scientists, FCSH NOVA and Universidade Nova de Lisboa Doctoral School. Her main interests are the use of theatre improvisation techniques and storytelling in Science Communication. Coordinator of science radio show 90 Segundos de Ciência. Founder and former President of Portuguese Science Communicators Network SciComPT.

Kirsten Shepherd-Barr

Professor of English and Theatre Studies at the University of Oxford. Her books include Science on Stage: From Doctor Faustus to Copenhagen, Theatre and Evolution from Ibsen to Beckett, and most recently The Cambridge Companion to Theatre and Science.

Teresa Girão

Director of the Botanic Garden (University of Coimbra) and researcher in science communication at the Centre for Functional Ecology – Science for People & the Planet (CFE). Her research activity was firstly focused on the field of biotechnology and neuroscience. She now focuses on the impact of science and technology and of science communication activities to society.

Paul Johnson

Paul is Professor of Theatre and Performance, Deputy Provost at the University of Chester and Head of University Centre Shrewsbury. He studied Physics and Theatre Studies at the University of Glasgow before undertaking a PhD on the use of science as a framework for writing about performance. He has published variously on performance and science, as well as writing a number of science related plays. He convened the Performance and Science working group of the Theatre and Performance Research Association (TaPRA) and is currently co-editing the Routledge Companion to Performance and Science.