Focus of my work
I am an active practitioner and academic in my subject areas of Drama Education, Applied Theatre and Creative Pedagogy.
The focus of my practice and research is on learning through use of critical-creative pedagogy in the arts for understanding of self-other, organizations and society. Within this my expertise is in the use of Pretext Drama as an arts-based research method with a particular interest in the concepts of interculturalism and democracy. I work in a wide range of contexts locally, nationally, and internationally including Education, Creative & Cultural Industries, Justice and Policing, Health, Social and Youth Work, Community, Built & Sustainable Environment, Public Organisations and Third Sector enterprises.
I play an active part in networks of higher education institutions and cultural organizations, am engaged in international research initiatives; act as scientific advisor to large scale and small research projects; support grass-root campaign groups; run intensive short and extended programmes for students, academics and other professionals ; collaborate with overseas partners in capacity building including doctoral supervision; act as reviewer to international academic journals; am regularly invited to contribute to courses and speak at international conferences; have staged pretext drama interactive workshops, locally and around the world.
Qualifications
Academic
PhD. University of Warwick (2003-2006). Translating and Understanding in Intercultural Applied Drama Contexts
MA. University of Keele (1987-1989). Drama in a Community Context [by thesis]
BA (Hons). University of Sheffield (1975-1978). English Literature and Politics.
Professional
PGCE. University of Sheffield (1978-1979). Drama and English.
ADB.Ed. Drama Board, London (1980-1981).
Ofsted Inspector: Section 9 Ref.No 14624 Drama (1996).
Ofsted Inspector: Post 16 Performing Arts (2001).
Other
Black Belt FSC Atemi -Jitsu (1992).
Awards & fellowships
National Teaching Fellow (2003-ongoing).
Distinguished Teaching Fellow University of Chester (2004-ongoing).
Honorary Fellow, University of Liverpool (2024-ongoing).
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2014-ongoing).
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (2003-2022).
Previous employment & experience
Visiting Professor, LUT University, Finland (2023-25): Department of Industrial Engineering & Management and Department of Computing and Software.
Invited Expert in Arts-Based Research , LUT University Team: TANDEM (Transdisciplinary And Deliberative equity appraisal of transition policies in Energy and Mobility) Horizon Research Project (2022-2025).
Adviser in Arts-Based Research ,TURFU – Imagine the future of marginalized territories Erasmus + Project, LUT University, Finland (2022-2025).
Collaborator with Anne Passila : iStories for the Perspective Series with NHS Research & Development North West, 2022-2025.
2014-2023 Co-Director Centre for Research in to Education and the Arts through Practice (RECAP). University of Chester, UK.
2007-2014 Head of International Development, Faculty of Education, University of Chester.
2007-2019 Professor of Drama Education, Department of Performing Arts, Faculty of Arts and Media, University of Chester.
1999- 2003 Programme Leader, PGCE Secondary Education & Partnership, Faculty of Education and Children’s Services, Chester a College of the University of Liverpool.
1993-2007 Senior Lecturer Drama and Theatre, Department of Drama and Faculty of Education, University College Chester.
1988-1993 Senior Lecturer (.5) Department of Drama and Faculty of Education Chester College of Higher Education & Drama Advisory Team (.5) Cheshire Local Education Authority.
1986-1988 Lecturer in Drama, South Cheshire College of Further Education, Crewe, Cheshire.
1983-1986 Head of Drama, Victoria Community High School, Crewe, Cheshire.
1981-1982 Drama Teacher, St. Mary’s High School, Collyhurst, Manchester.
1979-1981 Drama Teacher, Oldbury Wells, High School, Bridgnorth, Shopshire.
Overview
This employment has allowed me to work over four decades in a very wide range of formal informal and non-formal settings including:
Cross Sector Professional: Arts & Culture, Heritage, Education, Health, Social Work, Police, Prisons and Probation, Clerical, Youth Work; Business, Charity, Third Sector, Social Action and Community Local Government -Travellers, Homeless,Poverty Emergency; Built Environment, Armed Forces.
Local Education Authority Advisory Drama team: Prisons all categories of inmates mens’ and womens’ regimes- Life sentence, rule 43, Probation; Mother and Baby Unit, Young Offenders; Nursery 4-5 year olds; Primary School 5- 11 year olds; Special Schools, young people and adults with moderate learning difficulties and PMLD; Adult Education Literacy, Young people in residential settings; community.
Further Education: Theatre Studies A Level, Performing Arts BTech. TVEI Performing Arts.
High School: 11-18 years, GCSE Drama; Mode 3 Drama, Community High School and Centre vocational courses and intergenerational theatre groups young people and adults.
Higher Education: PhD Supervision, seminars, lectures, workshops; Doctoral taught EdD Progamme: Cultural Practices. Masters taught- MA Creative Practices in Education: Final Projects: MA Drama: Major Independent Projects; PGCE Drama: Intercultural Dimensions Subject Enrichment, MA Educational leadership: Creativity, Innovation and Leadership, BA Drama and Theatre. Applied Drama and Theatre module, dissertations and Independent Negotiated Practical Studies; Advanced Diploma Drama in Education.
Allan Owens 