PhD

Paul is undertaking a PhD with the University of Roehampton and Sadler’s Wells Theatre, running from October 2020 to September 2024.

On this page, you can find various materials – talks, texts, artworks – that have been developed through this publicly-funded research.

Emerging from and grounded in our collaborative practice, this project studies the relationships between freelance dance artists and institutions, particularly when ‘independent’ artists take on curatorial roles. We use the term ‘hosting’ to think about the practical, ethical and aesthetic complexities of these situations – and use these practices to reflect on our understanding of and participation in institutional structures.

In the first half of the PhD, Paul maintained a research blog – taking the form of 'open letters' to his supervisors – to keep track of current interests and preoccupations. You can find them here.

He is now developing the final thesis, which will take the form of a series of open letters to peers and collaborators who have engaged with this research project.

Something "more creative"
Presentation on art and politics given at symposium on 'Approaches to social transformation through the arts'. Kingston University, 10th March 2023.
Audio version available here.
Photo by Jemima Yong, of 'Use It or Lose It' performed at Camden People's Theatre, November 2022.

Love to all lovers
A chapbook of poems, addressing intimacy, queer contact, hosting and sensation.
Photo by Hamish MacPherson.
Febr 2023. Audio version available here.

On working with Chris Goode
An archive of reflections on abuse and accountability within UK theatre and performance, with Lucy Ellinson, Xav de Sousa and Maddy Costa.
Oct 2022. Audio of Paul's text available here.

Autumn Term
A series of performance workshops organised as & with the houdini club, at Nottingham Contemporary.
Oct - Dec 2022.

How have we been working together?
An text written and shared at Bidston Observatory, on practices of conversation and collectivity.
August 2022. Audio version available here.

No Manifesto, after Yvonne Rainer
Some refusals for the contemporary artist-organiser-producer.
May 2022. Photo by Hamish MacPherson.

Some propositions for a Center of Play
For Bahar Fattahi. A short text articulating some of the impossibilities of instituting or hosting 'play'. March 2022.

Dancing Their Unhappy Freedoms.
An essay co-written with Simon Ellis, on 'independent' dance artists, ambition and institutional powerless.
February 2022. Distributed online and as zines.
Audio recording available here.

On Late Harvest at One Thoresby Street
An essay published in New Critique, on the precarity, struggles and value of grassroots artist organisations.
December 2021. Photo by Adam Grainger.

Self-Possessed, a performance presented at Manchester Art Gallery as part of Handle With Care, organised by Iniva. 25th November 2021.
Photo by Hamish MacPherson.
The performance was accompanied by a short text available here.

Presentation for Practice Sharing (hosted by alys longley and pavleheidler) on meetings and note-taking.
Choreographic Research Aotearoa, Waipapa Taumata Rau (University of Auckland).
17th November 2021.
Transcript available here.

To suture a wound open.
An essay for Metaphor as Metamorphosis, on open wounds, shame, grief and relation.
July 2021.

Letters of Resignation - A Zine
Materials from our choreography course with Siobhan Davies Studios. September 2021. Download here.

In agreement with Dance4.
A performance at Dance4. Photo by Adam Grainger.
1st July 2021. Rachel Parry wrote a response here.

Presentation for Dance Research Matters, on protesting institutions, preserving institutions and claims of decolonisation. C-DaRe, Coventry University.
27th May 2021. Audio only. Full transcript here.

Letters of Resignation.
A choreography course with Siobhan Davies Studios. February - June 2021.

Demons, linoprint series.
30 postal editions.
December 2020.

Presentation for 'Undoing the Institution' at the On Transversality digital conference, on wreaths, the ontology of institutions and the desire to hold things together.
10th Dec 2020. Full transcript here.

Love to all lovers A chapbook of poems, addressing intimacy, queer contact, hosting and sensation. Photo by Hamish MacPherson. Febr 2023. Audio version available here.

On working with Chris Goode An archive of reflections on abuse and accountability within UK theatre and performance, with Lucy Ellinson, Xav de Sousa and Maddy Costa. Oct 2022. Audio of Paul's text available here.

Autumn Term A series of performance workshops organised as & with the houdini club, at Nottingham Contemporary. Oct - Dec 2022.

How have we been working together? An text written and shared at Bidston Observatory, on practices of conversation and collectivity. August 2022. Audio version available here.

No Manifesto, after Yvonne Rainer Some refusals for the contemporary artist-organiser-producer. May 2022. Photo by Hamish MacPherson.

Some propositions for a Center of Play For Bahar Fattahi. A short text articulating some of the impossibilities of instituting or hosting 'play'. March 2022.

Dancing Their Unhappy Freedoms. An essay co-written with Simon Ellis, on 'independent' dance artists, ambition and institutional powerless. February 2022. Distributed online and as zines. Audio recording available here.

On Late Harvest at One Thoresby Street An essay published in New Critique, on the precarity, struggles and value of grassroots artist organisations. December 2021. Photo by Adam Grainger.

Self-Possessed, a performance presented at Manchester Art Gallery as part of Handle With Care, organised by Iniva. 25th November 2021. Photo by Hamish MacPherson. The performance was accompanied by a short text available here.

Presentation for Practice Sharing (hosted by alys longley and pavleheidler) on meetings and note-taking. Choreographic Research Aotearoa, Waipapa Taumata Rau (University of Auckland). 17th November 2021. Transcript available here.

To suture a wound open. An essay for Metaphor as Metamorphosis, on open wounds, shame, grief and relation. July 2021.

Letters of Resignation - A Zine Materials from our choreography course with Siobhan Davies Studios. September 2021. Download here.

In agreement with Dance4. A performance at Dance4. Photo by Adam Grainger. 1st July 2021. Rachel Parry wrote a response here.

Presentation for Dance Research Matters, on protesting institutions, preserving institutions and claims of decolonisation. C-DaRe, Coventry University. 27th May 2021. Audio only. Full transcript here.

Letters of Resignation. A choreography course with Siobhan Davies Studios. February - June 2021.

Demons, linoprint series. 30 postal editions. December 2020.

Presentation for 'Undoing the Institution' at the On Transversality digital conference, on wreaths, the ontology of institutions and the desire to hold things together. 10th Dec 2020. Full transcript here.

PhD Seminar introductory presentation. Dance Department, Uni of Roehampton. 2nd Dec 2020. Full transcript here.