Dr Selina Busby

Dr Selina Busby is an academic and theatre practitioner who makes performances with community groups. At Central, she is a Principal Lecturer in Applied Theatre, teaching on both the BA Drama, Applied Theatre and Education and the MA Applied Theatre courses. Her research and practice focuses on theatre that invites the possibility of change, both in contemporary plays and in participatory performance. As a practitioner, she works in prison settings, youth theatres, and with young people living in adverse conditions both in the UK and internationally. Current projects include work with communities who have experienced homelessness in India and New York and also those in the prison system in England and in Malta. Impact of work Selina has given keynotes and lectures about her research at Central St Martins, London, The National Institute for Performing Arts and Music, Barcelona, Westminster College, Utah, The Korean University of the Arts and The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. In 2014 she was awarded funding from Creative Works London to work with Clean Break on a research project investigating and evaluating the success of their work with women who have experience of the criminal justice system. She is currently working on research projects in partnership with both Synergy Theatre Project and the G5A Foundation. Selina is also part of the steering committee for The National Alliance for Arts on the Criminal Justice System and in 2016 delivered a lecture for them at The Southbank, London, on International Prison Theatre Practices. Plans for the future For over a decade  she has been working with students from the UK in slum and informal housing communities in India. In 2016 the importance of this work for students was recognised in The Guardian University Awards and by its shortlisting for a Times Higher Education Award for excellence and innovation in arts education. She continues to develop applied theatre courses in the UK, India and Chile and is currently writing a book on the Ethics of Applied Theatre in International settings.