(Professor of drama) Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Professor of Theatre and Performance and Dean of Academic Quality at the University of Chester. He has held a number of higher education leadership roles including Head of Department, Head of School, Associate Dean, and Executive Dean of Arts and Humanities. In the HE sector he was elected Vice-Chair of Drama HE (or SCUDD as it was then called), the body that represents the interests of Drama, Theatre and Performing Arts, and in 2023 was appointed Chair of the Quality Assurance Agency’s review of the Subject Benchmark Statement for Dance, Drama and Performance.

Paul's areas of research interest are in interdisciplinary approaches to art and performance, such as science and philosophy; applied drama, including theatre and performance in museums and heritage sites and theatre with and for young people; and experimental performance in Europe and the USA. He has has taught on a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in drama, performing arts and musical theatre. He supervises PhD students on a range of topics related to performance.

He has also undertaken a number of leadership roles in arts and culture, including as the Chair of the Vibrant Shropshire Cultural Compact, Chair of the Shropshire Museums National Portfolio Organisation Oversight Panel, and Chairing the Shropshire Music Education Hub's Governance Board. Previously, he sat on the Strategic Board of Arts Connect, the Arts Council Bridge Organisation for the West Midlands, ensuring that they met their aim of ensuring wider access to arts and culture for young people in the West Midlands. Paul also has experience of working with a broader range of stakeholders, representing Higher Education on the Shropshire Economic Partnership Board and the Local Skills Improvement Board for the Marches.