Research & Development
Ruth’s practice based research spans a 25 year career as a theatre designer, with devising and making at its core. Her body of work has been mostly made in response to music and opera, using painting and sculptural elements to underpin narrative.
Her current thinking explores the intersection of opera and social change, ecology and activism- and how creative and participatory processes can facilitate understanding of global systems.
Other areas of interest include one planet theatre making, the history of theatre design pedagogy, the altered use of familiar materials in installation/performance art and the animism of models, puppets and props.
As Artistic Associate at Blind Summit, she contributes to the company’s enquiry into how and why puppets work.
DYCP bursary recipient: Study of the intersection between opera, participation, climate and social justice – Arts Council England, 2021-22
Residency: Using stories to affect positive change – Cove Park, Argyll and Bute, February 2022
Research workshop: Radical Scenography – UCA, 2022
Research workshop: Stories to affect positive change – Will Carslake/UCA, 2022
Research and Development: My Neighbour Totoro – Royal Shakespeare Company, 2021
Puppet Research and Development: L’Orfeo – Princeton University, Fall term, 2018
Research and Development Philip Ridley – Improbable/ Royal National Theatre Studio, 2018