Professor Paul Allain

Paul collaborated with the Gardzienice Theatre Association from 1989 to 1993 whilst writing his PhD on them, and published the first book in English on their work. He then went on to write the first book on Japanese theatre director Suzuki Tadashi, known for his method of actor training. Routledge published his Companion to Theatre and Performance, co-written with Jen Harvie in 2006, which had its second edition in 2014 and third edition in 2025. He has also published extensively on Jerzy Grotowski.
In 2015, he gained funding from the Leverhulme Trust to make films about physical acting for Methuen Drama Bloomsbury. These are published here with a companion website here. He was Research Mentor for the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama, 2015-19 and was a REF panel member for REF 2014 and 2021, both times for criteria and assessment phases. Currently he is a PCE REF Pilot Panel Member.
In 2009 he received an award for services to Polish culture from the Polish government and in 2018 won the Witkacy Award, for promoting Polish theatre overseas. He has extensive experience as an international research consultant and examiner.
He was Dean of Kent’s Graduate School from December 2016-November 2019 and was then Dean of the Graduate and Researcher College from December 2019-July 2022. 

Paul is a world-leading expert on Polish theatre and Jerzy Grotowski as well as physical acting and performer training. He has worked extensively in the UK as Movement Director and in actor training, most notably with Katie Mitchell on nine productions. He has led theatre workshops across Europe as well as in India, Iran, Singapore and China.

Current research interests include:

• The theatre practice of Tadashi Suzuki
• Digital tools in actor training and performance research
• Filming and documenting process
• Practice research 
• Polish and East European Theatre, the work of Gardzienice and practices after Grotowski 
• Intercultural Performance
• Theories of Performer Training and Performing

Paul teaches a range of courses as well as actor training mostly at Master’s level. Paul focuses on physical approaches to movement and body work, drawing largely on the Grotowskian lineage.

Paul has successfully supervised to completion many postgraduate research students (12 PhDs, 8 MAs and one MPhil), including students in Italy and South Africa. Several of these have been in practice research. 

Paul is keen to supervise in any areas related to contemporary performance, actor and performer training, practice research, Polish and East European theatre, vocal practices, digital tools in performance practice.

• Editorial Board Member: Contemporary Theatre Review, Polish Theatre Perspectives, Theatre Dance and Performance Training, Culture Teatrali
• Director of Strategy and Innovation, The Makings of the Actor, Greece, September 2021-
• Society of Authors
• REF 2014 and 2021 Panel Member
• Digital Theatre+ Advisory Board Member 2017-
• Member, Academia Europaea
• Visiting Artist in Residence, Shanghai Theatre Academy 2025-