Alejandro Postigo

Alejandro teaches theory and practice on the BA (Hons) Performing Arts. His research focuses on intercultural exchanges in musical theatre.

alejandro.postigo@anglia.ac.uk

Background

Alejandro is a theatre practitioner and researcher currently working towards a PhD in ‘Cultural exchanges between English and Spanish Musical Theatre’ having obtained an MA in Music Theatre at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

His creative practice explores hybridized forms emerging in contemporary musical theatre. Directing work includes ‘Men on the Verge of a His-Panic breakdown’ (US-UK), live art piece ‘Wondering thoughts’ (Bangkok) and his own PaR show ‘The Copla Musical’ seen at Hoxton Hall, the Roundhouse, and the Collisions Festival, and scheduled to tour internationally in 2016-17.

Spoken Languages

• English
• Spanish
• French
• Italian

Research interests

• Musical theatre writing, directing and performance
• Actor training
• Intercultural and devised theatre practices
• Spanish theatre and film

Teaching

• Music Theatre Studies
• Making performance
• Staging and reception
• Staging and production
• Performance skills
• Devising performance

Qualifications

• PhD Candidate at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (RCSSD). London.
• MA Music Theatre, RCSSD. London, 2010. La Caixa Award.
• BA Media Studies, Film and Journalism. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 2006.

Further Academic Training:

• BFA Music & Theatre. Exchange Program at Illinois Wesleyan University. USA, 2007-09.
• MII Théâtre, Musique, Cinéma. Exchange ERASMUS at Université Paris VIII Vincennes-Saint Denis, 2006-07.

Research grants, consultancy, knowledge exchange

• IES Award, 2007-09
• La Caixa Award for Postgraduate Research, 2009-11
• Madrid Government Postgraduate Research Grant, 2012-13
• Board of Governors Award, 2014-15
• Arts Council England, 2016

Selected recent publications

Book Chapters:

Postigo, A. 2016. ‘New insights into the notion of interculturalism and hybridity in musical theatre’. Music on Stage Volume II, ed. Fiona Jane Schopf, Cambridge Scholars Press (forthcoming).

Postigo, A. 2014. ’Rediscovering Spanish Musical Theatre: Exploring an Intercultural Adaptation of Copla’. Music on Stage, ed. Fiona Jane Schopf, Cambridge Scholars Press, pp. 184-197.

Journal articles:

Postigo, A. 2015.‘The Copla Musical: Exchanges between English and Spanish Musical Theatre. Spanish Theatre Journal Acotaciones Volume 34, ed. Emeterio Díaz. Publicaciones RESAD, pp. 53-81.

Recent presentations and conferences

2016. PaR and interculturalism in musical theatre’. IFTR-FIRT (Stockholm), Musical Theatre working group.

2016. ‘Making ‘The Copla Musical’: developing a PaR methodology’. Intersections, RCSSD, UK.

2015. 'Imposing star systems: the political popularization of role models’. Song, Stage and Screen X, Regent’s University, UK.

2014. ‘Hybridity in the development of an intercultural musical’, Music on stage, Rose Bruford, UK.

2013. ‘Copla & Flamenco outside Spanish borders’, Flamenco in the media, BNE (Spanish National Library), Spain.

2012. 'The Copla Musical: An intercultural approach to Spanish folklore’. Song, Stage and Screen VII, University of Groningen, Holland.

2012. ‘Interculturally adapting Copla’. Contemporary Ethnography and Traditional Performance, University of Chester, UK.

Selected professional theatre experience

2011-16: The Copla Musical, author/ deviser. Rosemary Brach Theatre, Hoxton Hall, Collisions Festival, Roundhouse.

2014-16: In the Heights (dir Luke Sheppard). Cultural advisor/ Performer. Kings Cross theatre (West End, London).

2014-16: The Winter’s Tale (choreograph Christopher Wheeldon). Performer. Royal Ballet, Royal Opera House (London).

2014-16: Romeo & Juliet (choreograph Kenneth McMillan). Performer. Royal Ballet, Royal Opera House (London).

2015: The Nutcracker (dir Ollie Fielding). Choreography. Pleasance Theatre (London).

2015: The Merry Widow (dir Nina Brazier). Choreography. Ryedale Festival & Wilton’s Music Hall (UK).

2014: Vampi (dir Donnacadh O’Briain). AD/ Dramaturgy. Hartshornhook Productions (London).

2014: Wondering thoughts. Performance art installation. Deviser. Collection Samadhi Santi. River City, Bangkok.

2011-12: Lost Musicals (dir Ian Marshall Fisher). AD/ Performer. Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler’s Wells (London).

2011: Shore (dir Anne Khazam). AD/ Movement. Riverside Studios (London).

2009-10: Men on the Verge of a HisPanic Breakdown. Director/ Producer. HisPanic Breakdown (UK 2010- US 2009).