Undertaking Cultural History Projects with Partners and Publics: Methods and Approaches

This seminar will discuss the benefits and challenges of undertaking ‘public engagement’ cultural history projects with volunteers and partner organisations. As an exemplar, Brooks will detail how she has worked with volunteers on an archival research project exploring theatre and culture during the First World War. She will discuss the design of the ‘Recovering First World Theatre’ project, its adaptation in response to the input of participants, and how the project is now being developed further. She will also discuss her experiences of working with partner organisations drawing on her work with The National Archives, the Theatre Royal, Brighton, and the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury. As a theatre historian Brooks’ focus is on theatre as a cultural form and institution, and the models, methodologies and approaches she will share in this seminar will therefore be applicable as models to a range of other historical projects