Head of Programme, Theatre Studies
Associate Professor
PhD(QUT)
Tel +64 3 479 5084
Email suzanne.little@otago.ac.nz
Research interests
Suzanne’s research interests include:
- Framing and critical theory
- Witnessing and performance
- Care ethics and performance
- Refugee representation in theatre and performance
- Representation and the ethics of trauma and violence in performance
- Actor training
- Repetition and mobilities in performance
- Practice as Research (PaR and PARIP) and Practice Research
- Reflective Practice
- Performance analysis
- Documentary and verbatim theatre
Suzanne has additional qualifications and experience in the visual arts and film and has worked also as an actor, director and production designer. Suzanne is director of the interdisciplinary ‘Performance of the Real’ University of Otago Research Theme. As part of that role, Suzanne convenes conferences as well as presenting her research at international conferences. Suzanne serves on a number of national boards, including the Theatre in Health Education Trust which specialises in using applied theatre to deliver sexual health programmes to schools throughout Aotearoa. Her research has been published in international journals such as Performance Research and Theatre Research International as well as in a number of books. Her forthcoming Routledge book – Performance, Resistance and Refugees is co-edited with Caroline Wake and Samid Suliman.
As a director, actor and/or designer, Suzanne’s productions include: William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, King John, Twelfth Night and multiple compilation shows such as Caryl Churchill’s Vinegar Tom; the group devised clown show Who Nose Romeo and Juliet and Arthur Schnitzler’s Anatol and La Ronde.
Suzanne is the co-founder of two ongoing Australian theatre companies – Vena Cava and The Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble where she served as co-artistic director before taking up her current position in New Zealand. She was awarded a PhD at The Queensland University of Technology for her thesis "Framing Dialogues - towards an understanding of the parergon in theatre" – an exploration and development of framing theory specific to theatre.
For further information, view Suzanne’s profile on Academia.edu: https://otago.academia.edu/SuzanneLittle
Supervisions
- PhD via Practice as Research, “Cinematic Theatre / Theatrical Cinema – a blending of processes,” Ross Brannigan, Auckland University of Technology
- MFA in Theatre Studies, “Dark Matter,” Martyn Roberts
- Masters in Theatre Studies - “Violence in the Theatre and Film of Martin McDonagh” – Orion Carey-Clark
- Masters Studio Project - Darling Girl: A Performance As Research Exploration Of Wendy Darling From J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan; Or, The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up – Beth Waite
Publications
Little, S. (2023). Refugees, visual culture and theatre. In S. Little, S. Suliman & C. Wake (Eds.), Performance, resistance and refugees. (pp. 19-34). Abingdon, UK: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003142782-3
Little, S., Suliman, S., & Wake, C. (Eds.). (2023). Performance, resistance and refugees. Abingdon, UK: Routledge, 191p. doi: 10.4324/9781003142782
Little, S. (2022, June). Procession: Caring through documentary. Invited documentary conversation, Docalogue. Retrieved from https://docalogue.com/procession
Little, S. (2022). Australasia. In R. Nelson (Ed.), Practice as research in the arts (and beyond): Principles, processes, contexts, achievements. (2nd ed.) (pp. 139-146). Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-90542-2_8
Mullen, M., Willis, E., Hyland, N., Little, S., & Hazou, R. (2021, December). Decolonising teaching and research. Keynote presentation at the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama & Performance Studies (ADSA) Conference: Performers, Makers, Methodologies, [Online].
Little, S., Suliman, S., & Wake, C. (Eds.). (2023). Performance, resistance and refugees. Abingdon, UK: Routledge, 191p. doi: 10.4324/9781003142782
Edited Book - Research
Little, S. (2023). Refugees, visual culture and theatre. In S. Little, S. Suliman & C. Wake (Eds.), Performance, resistance and refugees. (pp. 19-34). Abingdon, UK: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003142782-3
Chapter in Book - Research
Little, S. (2022). Australasia. In R. Nelson (Ed.), Practice as research in the arts (and beyond): Principles, processes, contexts, achievements. (2nd ed.) (pp. 139-146). Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-90542-2_8
Chapter in Book - Research
Little, S. (2017). The witness turn in the performance of violence, trauma, and the real. In E. O'Toole, A. Pelegrí Kristić & S. Young (Eds.), Ethical exchanges in translation, adaptation and dramaturgy. (pp. 43-61). Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill. doi: 10.1163/9789004346376_004
Chapter in Book - Research
Little, S. (2013). Aotearoa/New Zealand and practice as research. In R. Nelson (Ed.), Practice as research in the arts: Principles, protocols, pedagogies, resistances. (pp. 117-128). Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan.
Chapter in Book - Research
Little, S. (2011). Practice and performance as research in the arts. In D. Bendrups & G. Downes (Eds.), Dunedin soundings: Place and performance. (pp. 19-28). Dunedin, New Zealand: Otago University Press.
Chapter in Book - Research
Little, S. (2011). Re-presenting the traumatic real: Douglas Wright's Black Milk. In A. Kolb (Ed.), Dance and politics. (pp. 233-254). Bern, Switzerland: Peter Lang.
Chapter in Book - Research
Little, S. (2016). Dramaturgies of the left-behind: Mobility and stickiness in The Disappearances Project. Theatre Research International, 41(3), 245-257. doi: 10.1017/S0307883316000341
Journal - Research Article
Little, S. (2015). Repeating repetition: Trauma and performance. Performance Research, 20(5), 44-50. doi: 10.1080/13528165.2015.1095923
Journal - Research Article
Little, S. (2011). In and out of tune with reality: Opposed strategies of documentary theatre. Double Dialogues, 14.
Journal - Research Article
Little, S. (2010). Creating the reflective student-practitioner. Australasian Drama Studies, 57, 38-53.
Journal - Research Article
Little, S., & Martin, J. (2001). Framing this troubled island. NJ, 25(2), 57-64.
Journal - Research Article
Little, S. (2017). Migration, mobility and belonging. Proceedings of the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies (ADSA) Conference: Performing Belonging in the 21st Century. Retrieved from http://www.adsaconference2017.co.nz/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Little, S. (2011). Floods and earthquakes: The transformation and performativity of trauma cultures. Proceedings of the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies (ADSA) Conference: Transcultural. Transnational. Transformation: Seeing, Writing and Reading Performance Across Cultures. Retrieved from http://www.adsa.edu.au/conferences/past-conferences/2011
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Little, S. (2010). The traumatic body in performance. Proceedings of the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies (ADSA) Conference: Stripping Bare. Retrieved from http://www.adsa.edu.au/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Little, S. (2009). Documentary theatre/performance: Boom or bust. Proceedings of the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies (ADSA) Annual Conference. Retrieved from http://www.adsa.edu.au/conferences/past-conferences/2009
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Hart, S., & Little, S. (2008). Reflections in collaboration / collaborating on reflection: Engaging the student voice. In C. Bond & R. Spronken-Smith (Eds.), Proceedings of the Spotlight on Teaching at Otago Conference. (pp. 18). Dunedin, New Zealand: HEDC, University of Otago. [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Little, S. (2008). The power and treachery of place in performance. Proceedings of the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies (ADSA) Annual Conference. Retrieved from http://www.adsa.edu.au/conferences/past-conferences/2008/pdf2ADSA-Prog-v6.pdf/view
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Little, S. (2007). Re-presenting the traumatic 'real'. Proceedings of the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies (ADSA) Annual Conference. Retrieved from http://www.adsa.edu.au/conferences/past-conferences/2007/adsa2007abstractsandbios.pdf/view
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Little, S. (2006). Precarious practice: Re-representing the 'real'. Proceedings of the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies (ADSA) Annual Conference. Retrieved from http://www.adsa.edu.au/conferences/past-conferences/2006/adsa2006abstracts.pdf/view
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
McAuley, G., Sweeney, D., Emerson, R., Card, A., Little, S., Ginters, L., & Seton, M. (2006). ″Eftermaele″: That which remains after the event [Panel discussion]. Proceedings of the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies (ADSA) Annual Conference. Retrieved from http://www.adsa.edu.au/conferences/past-conferences/2006/adsa2006abstracts.pdf/view
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Mullen, M., Willis, E., Hyland, N., Little, S., & Hazou, R. (2021, December). Decolonising teaching and research. Keynote presentation at the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama & Performance Studies (ADSA) Conference: Performers, Makers, Methodologies, [Online].
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Little, S. (2019, June). Migration, refugees and the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Verbal presentation at the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies (ADSA) Conference: Festivals and Performance, Launceston, Australia.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Little, S. (2018, June). Acting in the post-truth era. Verbal presentation at the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama & Performance Studies (ADSA) Conference: Actors & Acting in the Twenty-First Century, Melbourne, Australia.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Little, S. (2017, June). Violence, performance and the audience. Verbal presentation at the Performance and Performativity of Violence Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Little, S. (2016, July). Affective atmospheres and performance. Verbal presentation at the PSi #22: Performance Climates Conference, Melbourne, Australia.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Little, S. (2016, June). Resilience? Precarity and affective labour. Verbal presentation at the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies (ADSA) Conference: Resilience: Revive, Restore, Reconnect, Brisbane, Australia.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Little, S. (2016, November). Uncertain mobilities, representation and The Container. Verbal presentation at the Performing Precarity: Refugee Representation, Determination and Discourses: Performance of the Real Research Theme Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Little, S. (2015, June). Towards a sociology and ethics of acting. Verbal presentation at the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies (ADSA) Conference: Revisiting The Players Passion: The Science(s) of Acting in 2015, Sydney, Australia.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Little, S. (2015, November). The 'document' and 'flesh' of memory remains in trauma performance. Verbal presentation at the Memory Research in Aotearoa, New Zealand Symposium, Wellington, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Little, S. (2015, October). Mobility, immobility, and The Disappearances Project. Verbal presentation at the Performing Mobilities Symposium, Melbourne, Australia.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Little, S. (2014, June). Restoring balance: Including theatre among art forms that can 'think' politically. Verbal presentation at the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies (ADSA) Conference: Restoring Balance: Ecology, Sustainability, Performance, Wellington, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
O'Donnell, D., Little, S., & Rogers, M. (2014, June). Publish or perish? Verbal presentation at the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies (ADSA) Conference: Restoring Balance: Ecology, Sustainability, Performance, Wellington, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Little, S. (2013, July). Expect everything: Careers in 21st century academia. Invited presentation at the Australian Drama Studies Association (ADSA) Postgraduate Workshop, Adelaide, Australia.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Little, S. (2012, July). Complicity and desire in violent spectatorship. Verbal presentation at the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies (ADSA) Conference: Compass Points: The Locations, Landscapes and Coordinates of Identities, Brisbane, Australia.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Little, S. (2011, July). Reflective practice: Perspectives, professional practice. Invited presentation at the Teacher Education Forum of Aotearoa New Zealand (TEFANZ) Forum: Reflecting on Practice, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Little, S. (2011, June). Floods, hurricanes and earthquakes: The transformation and performativity of trauma cultures. Verbal presentation at the Department of Music & Theatre Studies Research Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Little, S. (2010, June). Passing strange: Shakespearean performance training in a university. Verbal presentation at the Australia & New Zealand Shakespeare Association Conference: Drawing out Shakespeare: Shakespeare & Learning Then & Now, Sydney, Australia.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Wells, T., & Little, S. (2008). A critical analysis of 'The Best Thing' programme. Commissioned by Theatre in Health Education Trust. 5p.
Commissioned Report for External Body
Jaffe, J. (director), Huber, R. (performer), & Little, S. (performer) (2007, 22-25, 27-31 March). Stage Blood, by Charles Ludlam, Globe Theatre, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Performance
Little, S. (2022, June). Procession: Caring through documentary. Invited documentary conversation, Docalogue. Retrieved from https://docalogue.com/procession
Other Research Output
Little, S., (2010, April). Performance and Representation. Blue Oyster Performance Series in the Dunedin Fringe Festival. Dunedin, New Zealand. [Public Seminar].
Other Research Output
Little, S. (2004). Framing dialogues: Towards an understanding of the Parergon in theatre (PhD). Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. 453p.
Awarded Doctoral Degree
