Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Theatre Historian

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires a dedicated and insightful Theatre Historian to join our dynamic team. In this pivotal role, you will be the steward of theatrical legacies, responsible for conducting original research, educating the next generation of artists and scholars, and preserving invaluable cultural artifacts. The ideal candidate possesses a deep passion for the history of performance, a meticulous approach to research and archival work, and a compelling ability to share stories that bring the past to life. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape our understanding of theatre's evolution and its impact on society, working at the intersection of academia, curation, and public engagement.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Graduate Researcher / Ph.D. Candidate in Theatre or Performance Studies
Archival Assistant or Project Archivist
University Teaching Fellow or Adjunct Instructor

Advancement To:

Tenured University Professor
Senior Curator of Performance or Theatre Collections
Director of a Research Institute or Academic Department
Head of Archives & Special Collections

Lateral Moves:

Dramaturg for a major theatre company
Arts and Culture Critic or Journalist
Museum Exhibit Designer or Content Developer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct in-depth, original scholarly research into specific periods, movements, and figures in theatre and performance history, utilizing a wide array of primary and secondary sources.
Develop and publish peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and monographs that contribute new knowledge and critical perspectives to the field of theatre studies.
Design and teach a range of engaging undergraduate and graduate courses in theatre history, dramatic literature, performance theory, and research methodologies.
Curate, process, and manage archival collections of theatrical materials, including scripts, correspondence, photographs, playbills, designs, and ephemera, ensuring their long-term preservation.
Prepare detailed finding aids, collection guides, and digital metadata according to archival best practices (such as DACS and EAD) to facilitate researcher access.
Provide expert research assistance, consultations, and bibliographic instruction to students, faculty, visiting scholars, and the general public.
Present original research findings at national and international academic conferences, symposia, and public lectures to disseminate knowledge and build professional networks.
Develop and execute public-facing programming, including exhibitions, curated displays, lectures, and workshops, to engage a broader audience with theatre history.
Serve as a production dramaturg, providing historical context, research support, textual analysis, and critical perspective to directors, designers, and actors.
Write and edit scholarly and interpretive content for exhibition catalogs, museum labels, online resources, and other institutional publications.
Participate in the strategic acquisition of new materials for archival collections by evaluating their historical significance, condition, and relevance to the institution's collecting mission.
Mentor and advise graduate and undergraduate students on their research projects, providing guidance on their theses, dissertations, and capstone projects.
Secure external funding for research projects, archival initiatives, and academic programming by identifying funding sources and writing compelling grant proposals.
Collaborate with digital humanities specialists to develop innovative online resources, databases, and digital archives that enhance the accessibility and analysis of historical materials.
Serve on academic and institutional committees, contributing to curriculum development, faculty governance, and strategic planning.
Engage in the critical analysis and interpretation of dramatic texts and live performance from a historical and theoretical perspective.
Maintain an active professional profile through engagement with scholarly societies and organizations, such as the American Society for Theatre Research (ASTR) or the Theatre Library Association (TLA).
Oversee digitization projects for archival materials, managing workflows from scanning and metadata creation to online platform integration.
Assess the condition of historical artifacts and documents, collaborating with conservation specialists to develop and implement appropriate preservation strategies.
Provide expert historical consultation for film, television, and theatre productions seeking to achieve period accuracy in their storytelling, language, and design.
Act as a peer reviewer for academic presses and scholarly journals, providing expert feedback on manuscripts to uphold scholarly standards.
Organize and chair academic conference panels, fostering scholarly dialogue and creating networking opportunities within the discipline.

Secondary Functions

Support curatorial and programming teams with historical context and research for upcoming exhibitions, seasons, and public events.
Contribute to grant writing and fundraising initiatives to support research, special projects, and collection development.
Collaborate with communications and marketing departments to create engaging content about theatre history for social media, blogs, and newsletters.
Participate in institutional strategic planning, lending your expertise to shape the organization's long-term mission and vision.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Expertise in historical research methodologies and primary/secondary source analysis.
Deep, specialized knowledge of world theatre history, dramatic literature, and performance theory.
Proficiency in modern archival theory, practice, and descriptive standards (DACS, EAD).
Experience with archival management software (e.g., ArchivesSpace, Axiell) and digital asset management systems.
A strong and demonstrable record of scholarly publication in peer-reviewed journals or with academic presses.
Proven experience in curriculum design, syllabus development, and university-level teaching.
Familiarity with digital humanities tools and methodologies (e.g., text analysis, data visualization, GIS mapping).
Grant writing and proposal development skills with a track record of securing funding preferred.
Reading proficiency in one or more foreign languages relevant to the candidate’s area of research specialization.
Thorough understanding of intellectual property rights, copyright, and fair use principles in academic and archival contexts.
Advanced dramaturgical and textual analysis skills.

Soft Skills

Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with the ability to tailor content for both academic and broad public audiences.
Strong analytical, interpretive, and critical thinking abilities.
Meticulous attention to detail and superior organizational skills for managing complex projects and large datasets.
Proven ability to work independently on long-term research projects and collaboratively within a team-oriented environment.
Effective mentorship and advisory capabilities for guiding student research and professional development.
Confident and engaging public speaking and presentation skills.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Master's Degree in a relevant field.

Preferred Education:

Ph.D. in Theatre History, Performance Studies, or a closely related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Theatre Studies / Theatre History
Performance Studies
History
Dramaturgy
English Literature
Archival Science / Library & Information Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3-5+ years of relevant postgraduate experience in a research, academic, or archival setting.

Preferred:

A documented record of successful university-level teaching and student mentorship.
An established portfolio of scholarly publications, conference presentations, and original research.
Hands-on experience working in a special collections library, museum, or theatre archive.
Experience in curating physical and/or digital exhibitions.