Dr Dobkowska – Assistant Professor in Theatre Studies at University of Gdańsk in Poland. She completed her studies (BA, MA and PhD) in the United Kingdom. She specialises in contemporary British Theatre and Japanese Theatre.

She published a monograph about the subject of absence in theatre – Performance of Absence in Theatre, Performance and Visual Art (Routledge 2022). Absence as a gap between the perceived and known has creative potential in art. In her research, she moves beyond the European theatre to find intercultural representation of absence. In parallel to the first project, she actively researches Japanese Theatre. Together with the Okinawa Research Group she focuses on Okinawan Theatre – Kumiodori. She is an active member of the Between.Pomiędzy Research Group at the University of Gdańsk: https://www.between.org.pl/en/.

Academic Qualifications

2010 – 2015  PhD in Theatre Studies, Royal Holloway University of London 

2009 – 2010  MRes Design with Distinction, Goldsmiths University of London 

2006 – 2009  BA (Hons) Drama and Performance with First Class Honours, University of Wolverhampton

Relevant Employment

February 2020 to Present  Assistant Professor in Theatre Studies, Performance Art Department in the Institute of English and American Studies, University of Gdańsk, Poland (Full-Time)

August 2022 to September 2022 Visiting Researcher, University of the Ryukyus, Japan

September 2017 to April 2020  Visiting Scholar, Meio University, Japan (Part-Time)

September 2017 to September 2019  Adjunct Assistant Professor, Meio University, Japan (Part-Time)

April 2017 to September 2019  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of the Ryukyus, Japan (Part-Time)

January 2016 to August 2017  Principal, Santa Monica International School, Japan (Full-Time)

January 2015 to December 2015 Drama Teacher in Santa Monica International School, Japan (Full-Time)

Publications (organised chronologically)

Włostowski, Mateusz, Nikola Kociubska, Justyna Betańska, Klaudia Schmidt, Zuzanna Rajewicz. ‘Japanese Theatre: Creative Learning,’ edited by Sylwia Dobkowska. Silva Iaponicarum日林 vol. LXVII, summer 2022, pp. 66-107.

Dobkowska, Sylwia. Performance of Absence in Theatre, Performance and Visual Art. Routledge, 2022.

Dobkowska, Sylwia and Szymon Gredżuk. Japanese Theatre – Resource Pack. Between.Pomiędzy Education, 2021.

Dobkowska, Sylwia. ‘Separate Yet Together: The Twelfth International Between.Pomiędzy Festival of Literature and Theatre.’ The Theatre Times, 2021.

Gredżuk, Szymon and Sylwia Dobkowska. ‘Kumiodori – teatr królestwa Riukiu.’  Didaskalia, 161, 2021.

Dobkowska, Sylwia, translator. ‘An actor in trouble’ by Dorota Kołodziej. Włodzimierz Staniewski and the Phenomenon of “Gardzienice,” edited by S. E. Gontarski, Tomasz Wiśniewski and Kręglewska Katarzyna, 2021, Routledge, pp. 188-192.

Dobkowska, Sylwia, translator. ‘Dynamics’ by Beata Szymańska. Włodzimierz Staniewski and the Phenomenon of “Gardzienice,” edited by S. E. Gontarski, Tomasz Wiśniewski and Kręglewska Katarzyna, 2021, Routledge, pp. 202-204.

Dobkowska, Sylwia, translator. ‘Expeditions of Konstantin Stanislavsky and Włodzimierz Staniewski’ by Tadeusz Kornaś. Włodzimierz Staniewski and the Phenomenon of “Gardzienice,” edited by S. E. Gontarski, Tomasz Wiśniewski and Kręglewska Katarzyna, 2021, Routledge, pp. 216-229.

Dobkowska, Sylwia, translator. ‘From, between and towards: Mysteries, Initiations, Kraków, 2000’ by Dariusz Kosiński. Włodzimierz Staniewski and the Phenomenon of “Gardzienice,” edited by S. E. Gontarski, Tomasz Wiśniewski and Kręglewska Katarzyna, 2021, Routledge, pp. 334-347.

Dobkowska, Sylwia, translator. ‘My road to Gardzienice’ by Agnieszka Mendel. Włodzimierz Staniewski and the Phenomenon of “Gardzienice,” edited by S. E. Gontarski, Tomasz Wiśniewski and Kręglewska Katarzyna, 2021, Routledge, pp. 193-197.

Dobkowska, Sylwia, translator. ‘Perseverance’ by Magdalena Pamuła. Włodzimierz Staniewski and the Phenomenon of “Gardzienice,” edited by S. E. Gontarski, Tomasz Wiśniewski and Kręglewska Katarzyna, 2021, Routledge, pp. 198-199.

Dobkowska, Sylwia, translator. ‘Reciprocity’ by Kacper Lech. Włodzimierz Staniewski and the Phenomenon of “Gardzienice,” edited by S. E. Gontarski, Tomasz Wiśniewski and Kręglewska Katarzyna, 2021, Routledge, pp. 200-201.

Dobkowska, Sylwia, translator. ‘The magician of Gardzienice’ by Dominik Gac. Włodzimierz Staniewski and the Phenomenon of “Gardzienice,” edited by S. E. Gontarski, Tomasz Wiśniewski and Kręglewska Katarzyna, 2021, Routledge, pp. 230-249.

Dobkowska, Sylwia. ‘Kosmopolis – The Between.Pomiędzy Festival of Literature and Theatre.’ The Theatre Times, 2020.

Dobkowska, Sylwia and Meghan Kuckelman Beverage. ‘Physical Poetry: Using Japanese Butō in an EFL Poetry Performance Project.’ English in Education, Issue 1, Volume 54, 2020.

Dobkowska, Sylwia and Paul Johnson Eds. Justitia: Multidisciplinary Approaches to the work of Jasmin Vardimon Company. Bristol and Chicago: Intellect Books. 2016.

Dobkowska, Sylwia, Stacey Pitsillides and Duncan Fairfax.‘Immortal “Brand Me” Identity Immersion in a Digital Space.’ Making Believe: Goldsmiths Postgraduate Exhibition Catalogue 2010. 56-70.

Conference Papers

Dobkowska, Sylwia and Szymon Gredżuk. ‘Underwater Art.’ Between.Pomiędzy Research Group. University of Gdańsk, Poland 17-28.10.2022. (26 October 2022)

Dobkowska, Sylwia. ‘Performance of Absence.’ Between.Pomiędzy Research Group. University of Gdańsk, Poland 17-28.10.2022. (28 October 2022)

Dobkowska, Sylwia. ‘Performance of Absence in Theatre, Performance and Visual Art.’ Presence, Absence, Invisibility. Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal 10-14.10.2022. (12 October 2022)

Dobkowska, Sylwia. ‘All the World’s a Stage – Preservation of the Disappearing Environment.’ The International Federation for Theatre Research 2021 Conference, Theatre Ecologies: Environment, Sustainability and Politics. Online Conference. (12 July 2021)

Dobkowska, Sylwia and Szymon Gredżuk. ‘Przekład kulturowy: Teatr w Japonii.’ Between Edukacja Kosmopolis 2020, Webinar. (22 October 2020)

Dobkowska, Sylwia and Szymon Gredżuk. ‘Okinawa Research Group – Kumiodori.’ 101 lat relacji polsko-japońskich. Perspektywy, działania, więzi. Muzeum Sztuki i Techniki Japońskiej Manggha, Kraków, Poland. 27-28 February 2020. (27 February 2020)

Dobkowska, Sylwia and Szymon Gredżuk. ‘Kumiodori – 300 Anniversary of Theatre from Okinawa. Connections.’  Between the word, the sound and the image: A Centenary of Polish-Japanese Diplomatic Relations. Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland. 4-5 December 2019. (5 December 2019)

Dobkowska, Sylwia. ‘Performative Absence as Exchange of Signifiers.’ Theatre and Performance Research Association (TaPRA). University of Glasgow and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow in the United Kingdom. 4-6 September 2013. (6 September 2013)

Dobkowska, Sylwia. ‘Present Absence in Theatre.’ Postgraduate Pioneers. Royal Holloway, University of London, the United Kingdom. 23-24 June 2013. (23 June 2013)

Awards and Research Grants

2023 Research Grant from the University of Gdańsk. UGrants-First Programme 2023. Project title: Creative English. Principal Investigator

30.09.2022 Rector’s Award of Distinction – 1st Degree / Nagroda Rektora – I stopnia:  Given in recognition of outstanding career achievement and scholarly excellence in the academic year 2021/2022, University of Gdańsk.

2022 Research Grant from the Institute of English and American Studies, University of Gdańsk: Funding to present a paper entitled ‘Performance of Absence’ at Presence, Absence, Invisibility conference in Lisbon, Portugal, 10-14.10.2022.

2022-2024  Research Grant from the University of Gdańsk in Poland. Arts and Humanities Support Programme. Between.Pomiędzy Research Group, project title Theatre – Literature – Management, 2022-2024.

• Presence, Absence, Invisibility Conference in Lisbon 10-14.10.2022

• Sea and Japan Project – Visiting Researcher at the University of the Ryukyus, Japan (8-9.2022)

2021  Research Grant from the University of Gdańsk in Poland. UGrants First Programme 2021. Project title: Absent Theatre – Okinawan Kumiodori Theatre. Principal Investigator

2013  Research Grant from Royal Holloway University of London: Funding to present a paper entitled ‘Performative Absence as Exchange of Signifiers’ at TaPRA Conference in Glasgow, the United Kingdom.

2010 – 2013  PhD Research Scholarship from Royal Holloway University of London. Principal Investigator

2010 – 2013  PhD Maintenance Scholarship from Royal Holloway University of London.

2009  Highest Grades Award from University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom: Recipient of Highest Classification Award in Drama Department in the academic year 2009.

2006 – 2007  Experience Award from Arena Theatre in Wolverhampton: Recipient of Experience Award to conduct one year internship in theatre as Theatre Technician Assistant.

2005 – 2006  Project Grant from the European Commission, Brussels: Recipient of a grant from Youth in Action Programme awarded for a performance art project. Project Leader

Practice as Research and Art Projects

2022 Shakespeare DIY – Creative performance workshop, based on an adaptation of Shakespeare’s drama Romeo and Juliet. Students work in groups to change the settings, characters and the time of drama. At the end of the workshop, groups present their own version of the famous play. The workshop was popular among students and it was organised twice: 25.05.2022 for the SEA EU exchange students at the University of Gdańsk and 25.11.2022 for the local college students, during an event called Noc Anglistów (the Long Night of Anglicists).

2019  Ryūmya and Yui – Drama Production. The playscript has been researched and written by Dr Szymon Gredżuk, and applied to the text adaptation by Alistair McCallum of the original work – Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. This play was staged by the Drama Production class. Meio University, Japan

2018  Online Learning Course – I developed the curriculum, designed, and facilitated online learning course in Intercultural Communication as part of an action research project in pedagogy. Meio University, Japan

2018  and 2019  Poetry Performance – In January 2018 and January 2019, through butō methods, students developed their interpretation of contemporary poetry. Meio University, Japan

2017  British Theatre – This project consisted of ten workshops, where students developed their own original theatre script across genres of drama and physical theatre. University of the Ryukyus, Japan

2016  Graphic Designer – Justitia: Multidisciplinary Approaches to the work of Jasmin Vardimon Company. Bristol: Intellect Books. August 2016.

2016  Production Designer – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. Santa Monica International School performance, Okinawa, Japan

2015  Production Designer – The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. Santa Monica International School performance, Okinawa, Japan

2014  Graphic Designer – PhD Thesis: Performance of Absence. Royal Holloway University of London

2013  Graphic Designer – drama script: Theatremorphosis by Dan Rebellato

2013  Graphic Designer – Theatre and Performance Research Association (TaPRA) conference handbook. Royal Holloway University of London

2010 – 2013  Graphic Designer – Platform: Journal of Theatre and Performance Arts at Royal Holloway University of London

2011  Set Designer – The Siamese Twins by Artes Escenicas Rayuela and the Silver Lining Theatre Company in London

2010  Installation Designer – Heterotopia Provocation Exhibition in London

2010  Installation Designer – Making Believe Exhibition at Goldsmiths Postgraduate Design Degree Show as part of London Design Festival

Professional Development 

2018  Butō Workshop with Kanazawa Butoh Kan (金沢舞踏館 ) in Akita, 9-days intensive from 16-29 September. Orgnanised by POHRC, organization that researches the work of ankoku butoh founder, Hijikata Tatsumi.

2016 – Present  Sogetsu Art, Ikebana