NUI Galway is recruiting 2 full-time, fixed term Postdoctoral Researchers of Eighteenth-century theatre history for the project ‘Theatronomics: the business of theatre, 1732–1809’ led by Professor David O'Shaughnessy, School of English and Creative Arts and funded by the European Research Council.

Project Description:

This project investigates the finances of eighteenth-century theatre in London, 1732–1809.  The project will transcribe and digitize manuscript financial records and will use econometric methods to analyse the theatres’ underlying commercial operations. The project will apply these economic methodologies so that new perspectives on the careers of managers, playwrights, actors, and plays emerge.

Contract duration:  1 January 2022 – 31 December 2024 (36 months)

The succcessful candidates will develop new interdisciplinary methodologies for the financial analysis of London theatre. They will develop profiles of theatres, managers, playwrights, plays, and the theatre audience. They will research the salary lifecycle of the Georgian actor and build a full picture of other costs incurred by the theatres. The roles will involve working with cultural economists to develop econometric analytical frameworks (no expertise in economics required).

Duties include:

-Primary research into the careers of actors, managers, playwrights, and other theatre employees

-Primary research into eighteenth-century theatre financial data

-Analysing the revenues/costs of the theatre

-Developing a detailed profile of the Georgian actor's salary lifecycle

-Developing profiles of the theatre audiences across the period

-Associated administrative duties

-Contributing to the project website, social media outputs

-Prepare research work for publication, individually or in collaboration with research team, and disseminate results as appropriate

Qualifications:

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

-PhD in eighteenth- or nineteenth-century theatrical culture or a related field

-Significant experience in archival and historical research

-Excellent writing and communication skills

-Ability to work well both collaboratively and independently

-Highly motivated, with excellent organisational skills

Application Deadline: 22 October 2021

More details on the role and application process can be found here