About

I am a Lecturer in Creative and Professional Writing at the University of Derby, with an emphasis on scriptwriting. I’m also a writer, theatre maker and researcher, and the artistic director of the contemporary Greek and science-fiction theatre company Cyborphic. The focus of my own creative writing is on science fiction, utopian/dystopian literature and science fiction theatre and my teaching is influenced by my own practice and my professional experiences of working with new writers.

Research interests

My research interests include science fiction (in theatre, film and literature) and utopian/dystopian literature and philosophy. I'm also interested in science-fiction characters in theatre and film from the perspective of both a writer and a theatre maker. Finally, I am interested in Greek, British and - broadly speaking - European playwriting.

I am happy to hear from prospective PhD students on the following topics: utopian/dystopian fiction, science fiction, science fiction playwriting or screenwriting (and speculative fiction more broadly including fantasy and horror), The Weird and The Absurd, adaptation, anime, literature and philosophy, Greek literature and theatre (ancient or modern).

Recent publications

Books

• Adam Roberts: Critical Essays. Essay collection co-edited with Anna McFarlane, published by Gylphi in October 2016.

Chapters

• New Model Writer (with Anna McFarlane) in Adam Roberts: Critical Essays, published by Gylphi in October 2016.
• Etherotopia, or a country in the mind: bridging the gap between utopias and nirvanas, in The Individual and Utopia. Routledge, March 2015.

Journals

• From Genre to Zenre, in Alluvium Journal, October 2014. Available online at: http://www.alluvium-journal.org/2014/10/17/from-genre-to-zenre/
• Past and Future of Science Fiction Theatre (with Susan Gray), in Foundation: The International Review of Science Fiction, July 2014

Playwriting credits

• Last Tragedy: science fiction play originally performed at the 2018 Talos Theatre Festival in London, 22 March 2018, and which is also produced by Cast Iron Theatre (Brighton, November 2018) and Otherworld Theatre (Chicago, November 2018)
• Voice: fantasy play performed at the Bread and Roses Theatre in London (May 2015)
• Bunnies: absurdist drama performed at the Theatre “Glam Bar” in the Technopolis of Gazi, Athens (May 2009)

Creative publications

• Etherotopia (Impossible Spaces, July 2013)
• Gameplay (Cosmos Magazine, April 2013)
• Zombie History (Twisted Dreams, February 2013)
• A Boy, Alone (Quantum Realities, April 2013)
• The Painter’s Dream (The WiFiles, April 2013)
• Karyatis Unbound (Sorcerous Signals, February 2013)
• The Doers (Polluto: The Anti-Pop Culture Journal, February 2013)
• Bears (The Mad Scientist Journal, August 2012)

Professional interests

As the artistic director of a science fiction theatre company, I am interested in theatre production, new writing, science fiction theatre and its performance. I’m also interested in modern and contemporary Greek theatre, and the reception of classical Greek theatre. I have founded The Internet Database of Science Fiction Theatre, the conference series Stage the Future and Performing Greece, and am currently working on my second academic book.

Qualifications

• BA in Acting, Athenian Stage Drama School (Greece)
• MA in Playwriting, University of Central Lancashire
• PhD in Creative Writing, Birkbeck, University of London

Recent conferences

I have presented papers, seminars and lectures at a range of different conferences and universities. Recently, I have spoken at the following universities: Birkbeck, University of London; SOAS, University of London; Canterbury Christ Church University; Arizona State University; University of Liverpool.

I have also presented at the 13th International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society and my own Stage the Future and Performing Greece conferences.

Experience in industry

• I am the Artistic Director of Cyborphic, a science fiction theatre and Greek theatre company based in London
• I founded Talos: the Science Fiction Theatre Festival of London in 2015 and have been organising more theatre festivals and theatre workshops since
• I am experienced in working with new writers, both in an educative and a professional context, forming collaborations, creating networking opportunities, leading creative writing workshops, selecting scripts for production, directing new work
• I have twice been the festival director of the North London Literary Festival in 2016 and 2017, hosted by Middlesex University

Teaching responsibilities

For the BA in Creative and Professional Writing, I teach on:

• 5CW516 Writing for Screen
• 6CW500 Advanced Scriptwriting

For the MA in Creative Writing, I teach on:

• 7CW502 Writing apprenticeship