CLOSED – Research Assistant – Theatronomics

School of English and Creative Arts,

College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies

Ref. No. University of Galway 078-24

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a full-time, fixed term Research Assistant for six months, to work on the project ‘Theatronomics: the business of theatre, 1732–1809′, led by Professor David O’Shaughnessy. This post will be based in the School of English and Creative Arts, College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies  at the University of Galway, Ireland.

The position is funded by a European Research Council Consolidator Grant awarded to Professor O’Shaughnessy and is available from 1 May 2024 for 6 months.

Project:

This project investigates the finances of eighteenth-century theatre in London, focusing on the two major theatres, Covent Garden and Drury Lane, 1732–1809. Account-books, ledgers, and ephemeral manuscript folios, held mainly at the British Library and the Folger Library, are the project’s main sources; they contain extensive data on ticket sales, audience composition, actor salaries, payments to other theatre workers, repayments to investors, costume, scenery and other costs.

The project will transcribe and digitize these manuscripts and will use econometric methods to analyse the theatres’ underlying commercial operations. The project will apply these economic methodologies so that new perspectives on the careers of managers, playwrights, actors, and plays emerge. By synthesizing this complex data, Theatronomics will further enable us, by interacting with other datasets, to ask new interdisciplinary questions about the place of theatre within the city of London. The project will develop innovative digital humanities resources for the next generation of eighteenth-century theatre studies.

Our Team:

The research team comprises of the PI, 2 postdoctoral researchers, and 2 Research Assistants and is based in the Hardiman Research Building.

The position offers an opportunity for career development for early career researchers. The researcher will work closely with the project team and Principal Investigator Professor David O’Shaughnessy, and play a key role in the development of new interdisciplinary methodologies for the analysis of costs and revenues of the two major London theatres. The researcher will help to develop dynamic profiles of theatres, managers, playwrights, plays, and the theatre audience as the repertory evolves across the period. The researcher will also help research the salary lifecycle of the Georgian actor as well as building up a full picture of the other costs incurred by the theatres during the period. The role will also involve administration and data input/coding (full training provided).

Job Description:

The role is suited to candidates with a background in the humanities/social sciences with an interest in digital humanities/quantitative research OR to candidates with a background in economics/quantitative analysis and an interest in cultural history.

Duties:

  • Primary research into the careers of actors, managers, playwrights, and other theatre employees
  • Primary research into eighteenth-century theatre financial data
  • Analysing the revenues/costs of the theatre
  • Developing a detailed profile of the Georgian actor’s salary lifecycle
  • Developing profiles of the theatre audiences across the period
  • Associated administrative duties
  • Contributing to the project website, social media outputs
  • Data input / coding
  • Any other duties assigned commensurate to this level of post

Qualifications/Skills Required:

Essential Requirements:

  • Primary Degree (level 8) in the Humanities or Economics or a cognate subject (e.g. Data Science, Digital Humanities)
  • Experience of quantitative research
  • Excellent writing and communication skills
  • Ability to work well both collaboratively and independently
  • Highly motivated, with excellent organisational skills

Desirable Requirements:

  • Experience of working with digital humanities / TEI
  • Experience of working with databases
  • Excellent IT skills / website design / social media
  • Prior experience working as a research assistant

Salary: Research Assistant salary scale €30,025 – €39,908 per annum, (subject to the project’s funding limitations), and pro rata for shorter and/or part-time contracts.

The default position for all new public sector appointments is the 1st point of the salary scale. This may be reviewed, and consideration afforded to appointment at a higher point on the payscale (subject to the project’s funding limitations), where evidence of prior years’ equivalent experience is accepted in determining placement on the scale above point 1, subject to the maximum of the scale.

Research Salary Scales – University of Galway).

Start date: Immediately.

Continuing Professional Development/Training:

Researchers at University of Galway are encouraged to avail of a range of training and development opportunities designed to support their personal career development plans. University of Galway provides continuing professional development supports for all researchers seeking to build their own career pathways either within or beyond academia.  Researchers are encouraged to engage with our Researcher Development Centre (RDC) upon commencing employment – see HERE for further information.

Further information on research and working at University of Galway is available on Research at University of Galway.

For information on moving to Ireland please see www.euraxess.ie.

Informal enquiries concerning the post may be made to Prof. David O’Shaughnessy – david.oshaughnessy@universityofgalway.ie.

To Apply:

Applications to include a covering letter, CV, and the contact details of two referees should be sent, via e-mail (in word or PDF only) to david.oshaughnessy@universityofgalway.ie.

Please put reference number University of Galway 078-24 in subject line of e-mail application.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00 pm (Irish Time) 5th April 2024.

We reserve the right to re-advertise or extend the closing date for this post.

University of Galway is an equal opportunities employer.

All positions are recruited in line with Open, Transparent, Merit (OTM) and Competency based recruitment.