Dr Grant Peterson
Associate Dean - Student Experience/Senior Lecturer in Theatre

Summary

I joined Brunel in 2013 and co-founded the musical theatre subject strand and degree pathway courses. I have served as Programme Lead, Admissions Tutor and am currently the Associate Dean (Student Experience) for the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences. 

I publish scholarship in a range of subjects including British alternative theatre histories, performance and politics, musical theatre, gender and sexuality, pedagogy and student experience, and historical research methodologies. I have reviewed manuscripts for Routledge, Methuen Drama (Bloomsbury), and others.

Before academia, I enjoyed two decades of professional experience as a performer in theatre, musical theatre, television, and commercials, having worked in venues across Los Angeles and Southern California. For the West Coast premiere of the one-man show Dalton Trumbo's Johnny Got His Gun in 2003, I received the Backstage Garland Award for Best Actor, and the production was nominated for Best Revival by LA Drama Critics Circle and LA Weekly. My autobiographical one-man show, Canzerous.biz (AKA Performing Cancer) about a cancer diagnosis and the journey through healthcare systems in the UK and US, premiered at England's Bath Fringe Festival in 2012 and was part of university campus performances and invited conference talks. I originally trained at the Orange County School of the Arts and later graduated from the Ray Bolger Musical Theatre Program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). I wrote theatre reviews in New York briefly and, following a rare stage IV cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatments and side effects, I transitioned my career primarily towards research and education. 

I teach across many undergraduate modules and am a first supervisor for three PhD postgraduate students. I taught previously as a visiting lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London; Bath Spa University; and University of Winchester. Numerous former students of mine have found success in a range of roles in the creative industries, including acting, applied drama, and the educational sector. I have supported many students seeking advanced training and education, including entry into institutions such as the Royal Academy of Music, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. As I continue at Brunel, I relish the opportunities of both learning from my students and helping foster the next generation of performers, scholars, and innovators in the arts.

Qualifications

PhD in Drama and Theatre (Royal Holloway, University of London)

MA in Critical Studies in Theatre (University of California, Los Angeles)

BA in Theatre with Musical Theatre emphasis (University of California, Los Angeles)

Fellow in the Higher Education Academy

Mental Health First Aider - England

Responsibility

Associate Dean (Student Experience) for the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences

External Examiner for the MA in Drama at the University of South Wales

External Examiner for the BA in Musical Theatre, The Brighton Academy, accredited by Bath Spa University