A research project conducted through the Archive of Performances of Greek and Roman Drama, based in the Faculty of Classics at the University of Oxford, examined the international production and reception of classical plays since antiquity, including revivals and adaptations on stage, film and radio, and in opera and dance. The Archive serves as a repository for materials, such as posters, programmes, reviews, photographs and DVDs, and publishes an online record of almost 10,000 productions staged since the 5th century BCE.
Impacts include:
• Deepening the quality of contemporary productions of classical theatre through work with theatre practitioners, and so drawing in audiences for new cultural experiences and bringing acclaim to the UK theatre sector.
• Strengthening the UK theatre sector by helping to develop new skills, insights and ways of working for directors, translators, composers, designers, choreographers and actors.
• Helping to create an appetite for classical theatre through public engagement activities, and so contributing to knowledge and the quality of life.
The research team provides academic expertise for contemporary theatre. Discussions on performance interpretation, the historical dimension of drama and input at rehearsals has led to continued relationships with practitioners. This has informed many contemporary productions, such as Katie Mitchell’s National Theatre production of the Ted Hughes 'Oresteia' and the Northern Broadsides production of his 'Alcestis.' It has also feed back in to the research.
Researchers have also given public talks on aspects of classical theatre, including with Tony Harrison at a National Theatre event linked to the production of his play 'Fram' in 2008. They have also featured on BBC Radios 3 and 4. Further communication has been through publications and through contributions to programme notes, such as for Frank McGuinness’s new version of 'Helen' at the Globe in 2009. In addition, they have organised a series of public lectures with prominent international theatre directors, including Poland’s Wlodzimierz Staniewski, which has drawn much attention from UK practitioners.
The Archive itself provides a searchable, digital database that is widely accessible and has a variety of users from classicists to directors, with the online version receiving in the region of 10,000 hits since 2005. It has also led to the Onassis Programme, which commissions, develops and produces work by international theatre artists inspired by classical Greek drama. The Archive offers support by running public lectures, discussions and interviews in tandem with the productions. For example, when the Onassis Programme co-produced Seamus Heaney’s 'Burial at Thebes' in 2007, the Archive arranged a pre-show interview between one of the researchers and Seamus Heaney.
Further details:
www.apgrd.ox.ac.uk
http://www.onassis.ox.ac.uk/Homepage.html
Further information:
These short overviews have been produced as an aid to understanding some of the impacts arising from arts and humanities research. The examples are taken from existing AHRC projects, ranging from small awards up to large Research Grants and Centres. They are not exhaustive; impact from research takes many forms. It can occur at any stage of the research process, from its beginning to well after the research itself has finished.
The Research Councils define impact as the demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy. This definition accords with the Royal Charters of the Councils and with HM Treasury guidance on the appraisal of economic impact. Impact embraces all the extremely diverse ways in which research-related knowledge and skills benefit individuals, organisations and nations by:
• fostering global economic performance, and specifically the economic competitiveness of the United Kingdom
• increasing the effectiveness of public services and policy, and
• enhancing quality of life, health and creative output
These case studies offer some, but in no way all, of the diversity and variety of those impacts. They are not, however, intended as guidance on completing the Impact Requirements sections on proposals, for which you should refer to the Je-S guidance for Standard Grant proposals and Fellowship proposals.
It should also be remembered that the impacts described here will not necessarily be replicated by undertaking the same activities. The pathways to impact are as diverse and varied as the impacts themselves. These examples can, however, provide some illustration of what can be achieved.