The University of Essex Theatre and Drama in the Department of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies is led by a vibrant group of theatre practitioners who all work professionally in the theatre industry alongside their University teaching. There are five full time staff who specialize in areas such as verbatim theatre, performance, world theatre, digital theatre, theatre of testimony as well as playwriting.

Elizabeth Kuti is a winner of the highly prestigious Susan Blackburn prize for her play ‘ The Sugar Wife’ as well as having plays produced in London and on BBC Radio 4. Annecy Lax is an Associate artist with the company ‘Ice and Fire’ where she writes and directs. ‘Ice and Fire’ specialize in making verbatim theatre that centres on Human Rights stories. Liam Jarvis is Artistic Director of his own company ‘Analogue’ whose work experiments with the way developments in digital technology can enhance and develop theatre practice. His work tours internationally and has won a ‘Fringe First at the Edinburgh fringe. Mary Mazilli’s work covers work on contemporary Chinese theatre, and she has published two monographs in this area. She is also the founder and Creative Director of Lumenis Theatre Company. Jonathan Lichtenstein is a playwright whose plays have been performed internationally, and he is also the recipient of a ‘Fringe First’.