I came to Royal Holloway in 2000 from the University of Cambridge Faculty of Education, where I lectured in drama on the BA and PGCE courses. My research is focused on contemporary theatre and applied performance, which means that it takes place in multiple settings, including schools, in care homes for the elderly, in day centres for people with head injuries, in prisons, in hostels for the homeless, as well as in theatres. My research raises fundamental questions about equity and inclusion, relevant to all forms of theatre, questioning how far innovative theatre and performance practices are compatible with learning, community engagement, and civic participation. My book, Theatre, Education and Performance: The Map and the Story was awarded the Distinguished Book Award by the American Alliance for Theatre and Education in 2012, and my edited collection with Anna Harpin, Performance and Participation, was shortlisted for the TaPRA editing prize in 2018.                      

My research into theatre in non-metropolitan spaces and community performance led to an interest in amateur theatre. This research, undertaken collaboratively with Professor Nadine Holdsworth (Warwick) and Professor Jane Milling (Exeter), was funded under the AHRC Connected Communities Scheme. It investigated the social and cultural significance of amateur  theatre as a craft, as creative practice, as entertainment and as heritage.  We are honoured that our book, The Ecologies of Amateur Theatre (Palgrave, 2018), was awarded the David Bradby Prize for outstanding research in 2019 by TaPRA. 

My research project, with Professor Jenny Hughes (Manchester),  Dr Louise Ashley, Dr Cara Gray and Dr Gemma Edwards investigated the civic role of theatre in towns. Funded by the AHRC, the research to explored the value of theatre to towns and its townspeople. Towns have been overlooked; cities are widely regarded as creative centres in the global economy, dominating public arts agendas, defining cultural tastes, accounting for uneven distribution of employment opportunities, and taking greater advantage of public funding. Our research partners were The National Theatre, Manchester Royal Exchange and The Little Theatre Guild, with activist company Tribe Arts as collaborators. Our co-authored book, Theatre in Towns (with Jenny Hughes, Gemma Edwards, Cara Gray) can be downloaded here: Theatre in Towns | Helen Nicholson, Jenny Hughes, Gemma Edwards, Cara (taylorfrancis.com)

Integral to my research are sustained partnerships with theatre-makers and the wider cultural sector. I have a long-term research collaboration with the National Theatre’s Public Acts Programme, where I have led the research since its inception in 2017: Public Acts | National Theatre. I also work closely with the Young Vic Taking Part department, and, with Dr Yvonne Robinson, led research on their INNOVATE programme in schools: INNOVATE | Young Vic website. I continue to research and teach theatre for young audiences, and was recently honoured to give a keynote lecture at Baboró, the International Arts Festival for children. Locally, I am a keen supporter of Slough’s creative communities, currently undertaking interdisciplinary research on creative careers and skills for arts freelancers with Dr Giulia Achilli and Dr Yiluyi Zeng in the School of Business and Management. 

I am currrently leading a major new research project, Local Theatres: Participation, Inclusion, Imagination (September 2024-November 2026). Funded by the AHRC, this research will investigate the contribution theatres make to their local communities, and how theatre-making might contribute to re-imagining an expanded idea of 'the local'. The team of researchers includes Professor David Gilbert, Dr Cara Gray, Dr Yvonne Robinson (RHUL): Professor Selina Busby (Central School of Speech and Drama); Dr Adelle Hulsmeier (University of Sunderland) and Professor Anne-marie Greene (University of York). 

I was co-editor of the leading international journal in applied theatre and drama education, RiDE: The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance, published by Routledge (www.informaworld.com/crde) from 2004-2018. I remain particularly interested in encouraging publication of research from underserved academics and early career researchers. 

My interest in strengthening the university's social purpose informed my work as Vice Principal for Research Impact and Interdisciplinarity (2017-2021). In this role, I worked with colleagues to initiate a culture change in the University, supporting challenge and partnership-led research and encouraging collaboration within and beyond the academy. I took over as the University's lead for REF2028 during the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic, supporting colleagues in preparing our submission. 

I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Associate Fellow of Homerton College, University of Cambridge, and Visiting Professor at the University of Stockholm. 

I continue to enjoy teaching at all levels, and I have introduced many new courses into the undergraduate curriculum that are associated with my research interests. These include courses in theatre for young audiences, theatre education, performance of memory, contemporary theatre-making and devised theatre. Many of these courses involve placements in different settings. My inspirational PhD students have researched different aspects of applied theatre, theatre in schools and heritage settings, amateur theatre and contemporary performance.