Dr James Peachey-Baker
Senior Lecturer in Theatre and Programme Coordinator of Drama, Theatre & Directing
About
James is a theatre maker, academic and artist. He is also Co-artistic Director and Board Member of Bootworks Theatre Company.
Alongside being a Senior Lecturer in Theatre and Programme Coordinator of Drama, Theatre & Directing at the University of Chichester, James is also a Lecturer in Acting & Performance at Solent University. He is also the Research Degrees Coordinator in the disciplines of Dance and Theatre at the University of Chichester.
Previously, he has taught on the undergraduate programme at the University of Portsmouth, and guest lectured on the MA in Advanced Theatre Practice at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
James has been published in numerous publications and has won a Total Theatre Award for Innovation in 2010 (as well as receiving nominations in 2009 and 2015). With Bootworks, James has toured his work to 12 countries worldwide with support from The British Council and has frequently received funding from Arts Council England to make and tour work nationally
Industry Experience
NINE (2019-onwards) Director, Presented by Bootworks: Indoor touring work. Commissioned by Arts Council England (ACE), Strike A Light Festival, GL4 & Attenborough Arts Centre.
The JukeBoxes (2016-onwards) Director/Performer, Presented by Bootworks: Outdoor touring work. Commissioned by Arts Council England (ACE), Without Walls and Applause Rural Touring. Performed at the National Theatre.
Bootworks Theatre Talkshop Podcasts (2016-onwards) A free podcast that interviews individuals/companies making/supporting progressive children’s performance.
Cards for Devising (2016-onwards) A free resource for schools and colleges that encourages the making of new theatre works. Distributed in 23 countries and supported by The University of Chichester.
The Many Doors of Frank Feelbad (2015) Director/Performer, Presented by Bootworks: Our second work of children’s theatre. A piece exploring notions of loss and grief. Commissioned by Warwick Arts Centre and supported by Worthing Theatres, Artsdepot and ACE.
Now Listen To Me Very Carefully (2014) Performer, Presented by Bootworks: A filmic adaptation of Terminator 2 addressing issues around compulsion and obsessive behaviour. Commissioned by Redbridge Drama Centre, The ShowRoom and Home and supported by ACE.
30 Days to Edinburgh (2012) Director/Performer, Presented by Bootworks: A durational project whereby the three Artistic Directors of Bootworks walked from their home in Chichester to Edinburgh where they shared a performance documenting their journey. Supported by ShowRoom Chichester.
The Incredible Book Eating Boy (The Black Box, 2011) Director/Performer, Presented by Bootworks: An adaptation of the award-winning picture book by Oliver Jeffers. A 5-minute performance for an audience of one child and parent at a time. Supported by ACE, British Council, 3M and ShowRoom Chichester. Performed in UK, Brazil and Egypt.
Predator; Finishing What I Started When I Was Five (2011) Dramaturg, Presented by Bootworks: A participative performance exploration of fraternal relations and loss. Performed by Andy Roberts. Supported by The Basement Brighton and ShowRoom Chichester.
30 Days to Space (2010) Solo Performance, Presented by Bootworks: Winner of a Total Theatre Award (2010). A durational project where I climbed to the height of space over the course of 30 days, fulfilling a lifelong aspiration to become an astronaut. Supported by The Forest Fringe and ShowRoom Chichester.
Little Box of Horrors (The Black Box, 2009) Director/Performer, Presented by Bootworks: A theatrical deconstruction of the horror film genre. Drawing from and referencing a range of filmic and literary stimuli, stemming from an initial interest in
Freud’s The Uncanny and how Kubrick exploits this notion in his adaptation of The Shining. Shortlisted for a Total Theatre Award (2009). Supported by ACE, Without Walls, British Council, Forest Fringe, Battersea Arts Centre and Farnham Maltings. Performed in the UK, Japan and China.
Une Boite Andalouse (The Black Box, 2007) Performer, Presented by Bootworks: A theatrical deconstruction and pastiche of Dali and Bunuel’s Un Chien Andalou (and other Surrealist films). Supported by ACE, Without Walls, British Council, Forest Fringe, Battersea Arts Centre and Farnham Maltings. Performed in the UK, France, Brazil, Germany, Norway, China and Japan.
Teaching Experience
Solent University (Sept 2019-Current) 0.6 Lecturer in Performance – Teaching modules for the Department of Theatre in Research Methodologies, Theatre Histories, Performance Practices and Techniques, Global Theatre, Performance & Identity, Contemporary Theatre, Final Major Project, and Global Cinema.
University of Chichester (Sept 2014-Current) 0.4 Senior Lecturer – Teaching modules for the Department of Theatre in Devising, Theatre & Intervention, Deconstruction, Site-specific Theatre, Children & Young People’s Theatre, Directing, World Theatre, Post-Structural Skills, Physical & Visual Theatre, Multi-media Theatre and Narrative. Programme Coordinator for BA (hons) Drama, Theatre and Directing and departmental lead on recruitment and marketing.
University of Chichester (Sept 2009-2019) Associate Lecturer – Teaching modules for the Department of Music (Musical Theatre) in Acting and Devising Theatre.
University of Portsmouth (Sep 2012-2014) Associate Lecturer – Teaching modules in Practical Skills, Forming a Company and Projects and Budgets
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (Sep 2011 – 2012) Visiting Lecturer on the M.A in Advanced Theatre Practice.
C & T (Sept 2009-Sept 2010) Creative Arts Animateur – King Richards School Portsmouth. Specialising in Workshops for English & Science. See website for further details: http://www.candt.org/
Dramart Productions (2007): Workshop Facilitator – a week long workshop in Tollo, Greece on Classical Greek texts with the students of BHASVIC college. Multimedia / Live performance. Ages 16-18. See website for further details: http://www.dramartproductions.co.uk/
Bootworks Theatre Collective (2006-Present): Workshop Facilitator – ‘The Black Box’; a street theatre installation. Presented at Metal Culture Edge Hill Station; Liverpool, Nantwich and Ockford Ridge for varying durations. All age ranges. See website for further details: http://www.bootworkstheatre.co.uk/
Bigfoot Theatre (2008-2009): Workshop Facilitator – After Schools club. See website for further details: http://www.bigfoot-theatre.co.uk/Fluid Theatre
Workshop Facilitator – Offering workshops in devising practices, Greek Theatre, Commedia Dell’arte.
Fluid Theatre mainly functioned at Burgate School and Sixth Form, Hampshire. The Company received funding from Farnham Maltings / ACE to undertake a school touring production of Aristophanes’ Lysistrata. Ages 13-18.
Razzamataz Theatre Schools (2008): Workshop Facilitator – Day workshops in Musical Theatre presented in Littlehampton. Ages 5-16. See website for more details: http://www.razzamataztheatreschools.co.uk/
Key Publications
- Peachey-Baker, J (2025) The Cancellation of The Family Sex Show. In: Ada, U, (ed.) British Theatre and Young People: Theory and Performance in 21st Century. London & New York: Routledge This text responds to concerns of propriety around sexual content within the touring production of The Family Sex Show.
- Peachey-Baker, J (2024) NINE; A Project Overview. In: Prpa Fink, M, (ed.) Theatre for Children – Artistic Phenomenon. Subotica, Open University of Subotica Press This text reflects upon the performance NINE and considers its potentiality for enhancing child agency.
- Baker, J (2018) Lookout – The Future is Here, ASSITEJ Magazine; Bejing World Conference This text responds to Andy Field’s work Lookout, and the tricky relationship that children have with projections of the future. Translated into Chinese and Portuguese.
- Baker, J (2016) Taboo in Children’s Theatre, Exeunt Magazine This text discusses strategies for introducing children to bereavement in theatre performance. With particular reference to the performance piece, The Many Doors of Frank Feelbad.
- Baker, J in Daniels, R (2014) Doing It Together, D.I.Y Theatre, University of Chichester Press This text discusses the virtues of collaborative working in relation to making contemporary theatre.
- Baker, J (2012) Total Theatre: A Spaceman, Cowboy & Disco-Dancer, The University of Winchester This text is an introductory contextual document to accompany the performance 30 Days to Edinburgh.
- Baker. J, Daniels. R & Roberts. A in Field, A (ed.) (2012) 30 Days to Edinburgh, Forest Fringe Paper Stages, Jerwood Charitable Foundation This text is a task-based document to accompany the performance 30 Days to Edinburgh.
- Baker. J, Daniels. R & Roberts. A (2010) Total Theatre: Diary of a Spaceman, University of Winchester. This text documents the process of performing the live art piece 30 Days to Space.
Conferences
- 30th International Festival of Children’s Theatres Subotica, Serbia (20th Sept 2023) Presenting NINE and Child Futurity in Theatrical Ephemerality.
- Children, Youth, and Performance Conference Canada (12th June 2023) Presenting NINE and Ethics of Accommodation.
- Performing Childhoods New Zealand. (26th November 2021) Presenting Building Agentic Opportunities for Young People in Intergenerational Devising Contexts.
- Imaginate Panel Discussion (6th August 2016) Taboo in Children’s Theatre; a discussion on critical approaches and appropriate safeguards.
- Mapping Borders Symposium at the Parlour Showrooms Bristol. (13th September 2013) Presenting Walkie Talkie with Andrew Roberts; a paper on the critical influences of performance work 30 Days to Edinburgh.
Awards
James is a winner of a Total Theatre Award for Innovation (as well as receiving nominations in 2009 and 2015).
Research
James’ primary research interests are engaged with contemporary theatre practices that involve children and intergenerational collaboration.
PhD Supervision
James started a PhD at The University of Chichester in 2016 exploring agency within inter-generational devising contexts.