University of Queensland Drama Professor Joanne Tompkins will become editor of the prestigious Theatre Journal in 2015.
Theatre Journal has an international reputation as the most authoritative publication of theatre studies.
Professor Tompkins will be the journal鈥檚 first editor from outside North America and will work with international scholars on the editorial board.
She said she would be honoured to take up the prestigious position and was excited about helping to shape the discipline.
鈥淚 hope to maintain the journal鈥檚 high standards, help make it even more international in focus and, if possible, make it more able to incorporate digital material,鈥� Professor Tompkins said.
鈥淭hroughout my term, I will edit four themed issues in addition to general issues.鈥�
鈥淲hile I have several ideas for the types of themes I will pursue, one will be to take up ideas of the 鈥榮outh鈥� and the southern hemisphere,鈥� she said.
Professor Tompkins鈥檚 appointment includes two years as co-editor before starting a two-year term as editor in 2015.
She has been researching in the dramatic field for 23 years.
鈥淭heatre is a barometer of social and cultural health,鈥� Professor Tompkins said.
鈥淚t reflects and refracts a culture, demonstrating to us, physically, in live form, what delights and scares us.鈥�
Professor Tompkins鈥檚 current research includes 3D visualisation and modelling of theatre spaces; spatial studies in theatre; Australian theatre; post-colonial, intercultural, and multicultural theatre and performance.
Theatre Journal was established in 1949. It is a quarterly academic journal published by The Johns Hopkins University Press and is an official publication of The Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE).
Theatre Journal provides a broad array of scholarly articles and reviews aimed at academic and student audiences.
Drawing contributions from noted practitioners and scholars, Theatre Journal features social and historical studies, production reviews, and theoretical inquiries that analyse dramatic texts and production.
Media: Dania Lawrence (07 33659163 or d.lawrence@uq.edu.au).
