Emmanuel Ekere Thompson
PhD Researcher in English
Biography
Emmanuel Ekere Thompson is a doctoral researcher and theatre scholar at Northeastern University London, where his research examines Cultural Diversity on the Colonial/Postcolonial London Stage from 1825, with particular attention to connections with Nigerian performance traditions. His work brings together historical research and modern practice, delving into the ways Victorian theatre traditions have shaped and intertwined with African performance practices. His research interests include Nigerian and African theatre, community theatre, and historical performance practices. He is dedicated to reclaiming marginalised voices and shedding light on overlooked aspects of theatre history.
His research methodology combines rigorous historical analysis with practice-based approaches. Emmanuel has conducted comprehensive fieldwork across six Nigerian cities, collecting primary data from diverse cultural contexts. He has also created and produced several short films, showcasing how theoretical ideas can come to life in moving images. His short films have received official nominations and selections and have been screened at international film festivals, including AFRIFF 2023, IFA 2023, Begin 2024, the FilmJoint 2025, and the New York Lift-Off Film Festival 2025. He was selected as a participant in the 2024 Yenching Global Symposium at Peking University, Beijing. He has also completed peer reviews for prestigious academic journals, including Theatre Research International and LLIDS Journal, and his research has been presented at international conferences, including the Comparative Drama Conference at LAMDA 2025 and Performing Tangier Festival in Morocco 2025.
Emmanuel’s scholarly work spans multiple areas of theatre and literary studies. His publications examine stage challenges in contemporary Nigerian theatre, women’s representation in Niger Delta drama, military dictatorship and political theatre in Nigerian performance, crime prevention in Nollywood films, and postcolonial and Marxist tensions in African literature.
Qualifications
PhD in English, Northeastern University London (expected 2027)
MA in Performing Arts (Distinction), Akwa Ibom State University (2022)
BA in Performing Arts (First Class), Akwa Ibom State University (2017)
Teaching
Emmanuel currently serves as a Postgraduate Teaching Assistant at University College London, where he teaches Performance Practice 1: Body, Space, Expression and Reading Acts: Introduction to Performance Studies. Previously, he worked as a Graduate Assistant at Akwa Ibom State University’s Department of Performing Arts (2019-2023), where he taught undergraduate courses including Survey of World Theatre from Classical Period to Renaissance, Survey of World Theatre: Renaissance to the 19th Century, Acting Principles, Theatre of the African People, and Theatre of the Nigerian People. He has also taught Performing Arts and Literature-in-English at the secondary school level and served as Theatre Manager and Drama Director at Pinnacle Theatre, AKSU, directing multiple theatrical productions.
Contact
Emmanuel Ekere Thompson
Thompsonemmanuel988@gmail.com
Northeastern University London is a charity
registered with the Charity Commission for
England and Wales (charity number 1189858).
Location
Devon House
58 St Katharine’s Way
London E1W 1LP, UK
+44 20 7637 4550
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