Jonathan Pugh BA, PGCHE, MA

Jonathan has been an important figure in the performing arts at UWTSD for several years - with a first degree in Theatre, Film and Television from Aberystwyth University and a penchant for authentic learning methods, and embodying narrative construction into practice, fuelled by his MA in Classical Studies.

Jonathan has always integrated current digital and media formats into traditional and contemporary practical theatre productions to create innovative performance paradigms. During his time as a Programme Manager for creative industries programmes at UWTSD, he has overseen programmes in Contemporary Performance, Technical Theatre , Applied Drama (Swansea), Perfformio, Cyfryngau Creadigol, Cerddoriaeth, Applied Drama (Carmarthen).

Before joining UWTSD, Jonathan had worked with key practitioners and companies in the Welsh arts scene, including Eddie Ladd, Cliff McLucas, Sera Moore Williams (Cwmni’r Gymraes), Sian Summers (Cwmni Rhiniog), Spectacle Theatre and supported student projects at Aberystwyth University.

Jonathan continues to train with physical theatre and dance practitioners to blend practice with personal exploration. This research practice facilitates a discourse between identity and location, body and space, and fuels creative responses to received wisdom upon our contemporary landscape.

• Site specific and site responsive performance;
• Practice as research, context, and the creative act – where does this begin?
• Expressionistic theatre with particular interest in Buchner, and the theatre of Brecht;
• Contemporary physical theatre training (derived from Lecoq, Grotowski), Butoh;
• Mythology and nature: Ancient Greek Mythology and the creation of modern mythologies;
• Performance of self: identity online and performance for memory in an increasingly digital environment;
• Outdoor physical education and practice in nature for resilience and robust mental health.

• Devising, site responsive performance, multi-platform performance work
• Curriculum design, interdisciplinary collaboration, non-traditional assessment design
• Editing, sound and video recording, live performance management
• Participatory performance
• Functional quality assurance and implementation