Dr. Emily Garside
Emily is a writer, thinker, and theatremaker, and a passionate communicator about the value of LGBTQ+ stories in popular culture.
As a journalist and critic, Emily has a unique understanding of the relationship between the audience and the production. She trained at Montreal and at RADA, before completing her PhD in theatrical responses to the AIDS crisis. She is a leading expert on LGBTQ+ theatre and has spoken at organisations including The National Theatre, Bishopsgate Institute, Sherman Theatre, University of Wolverhampton, Notting Hill Housing Association, and Taylor and Wessing Legal.
She has been a guest on podcasts including; Curtain Call, Leeway Productions 10 Minute Musicals, Pen and Paper Theatre Company Podcast, In Lockdown with… and others.
Writing
Emily writes across multiple mediums: from reviews to opinion pieces, and from long-reads to research-led articles. She contributes to The Queer Review, American Theatre, Wales Arts Review, and many others. (For a portfolio sample, click here). Her upcoming short book, Love That Journey for Me: The Queer Revolution of Schitt’s Creek, was part of the 404Ink Crowd Funder, which reached £20,000 in two days.
As a playwright, she has produced work with Clock Tower Theatre, Dirty Protest Theatre, and The Other Room, as well as the Arena Theatre Wolverhampton as a writer for their 14/48 theatre festival.
As an academic, Emily is completing Longing for What’s Left Behind and Dreaming Ahead: Angels in America (under contract, McFarland), and her subsequent book will be on Jonathan Larson’s musical Rent. She has published widely on fan studies, audience research, Queer representation in TV, and immersive performance.
Teaching
Emily has taught professionals and trainees in the theatre industry in a variety of institutions, including London Playwrights and Bishopsgate Institute. She has also taught as a visiting practitioner and lecturer at a range of universities, including most recently at the University of Wolverhampton.
Advising and Consultancy
Emily is an active member of the Cardiff theatre community. She is a script-reader for a number of international theatre companies, including London Playwrights Blog, Route 66 Theatre (Chicago), The Political Playwrighting Award, and Shakespeare in Italy. From 2016-2021 she was Chair of the Board of Trustees for Taking Flight Theatre and remains an active Board member with the company.
As a dramaturg and researcher, she worked on the National Theatre’s 2017 production of Angels in America in various roles – from advising director Marianne Elliott to running education events – and wrote the official programme note informed by her groundbreaking research.
Commissioning:
Emily is available for writing and research projects within the creative industries, for audience research projects and public engagement, and for dramaturgical and script reading work.
For work or research queries:
Email: EmilyMGarside@gmail.com
Twitter: @EmiGarside
Phone: 07757 121775
