Tabitha Fuster-Burnett

Profile

I began my academic career at the University of Warwick in 2015 studying BA Film and Literature, specialising in queer cinema with a dissertation on representations of drag and gender crossing in Hollywood. After graduating, I transitioned to the University of Leeds in 2018 to study MA Society, Culture, and Media where I rediscovered my passion for social research.  

My doctoral thesis examines the levels of institutional inclusion and exclusion in UK theatre companies with a focus on disabled people’s experiences in these organisations. This concept stemmed from my own experience in inclusive theatre companies, where I observed both the potential for empowerment, inclusion, and community, and the many barriers impacting full inclusion in these spaces. Of particular interest to me were the educational sectors in these theatre companies, which offer a range of “inclusive” courses teaching skills in performance and educational access. My research centres around a question asked by one of my participants: “is inclusivity really inclusivity?” to tackle what “inclusion” really means in these settings and how my participants interpret their experiences. To understand this, I analyse my data through the lens of neoliberal-ableism to examine how neoliberalism structurally impacts these companies and impacts the extent of their inclusive practices.  

My research was conducted ethnographically, using a mixture of participant observations, semi-structured and unstructured interviews, group conversations, and creative methods to engage with my research settings. I spent one year working at two theatre companies where I adopted a number of roles including wardrobe assistant, group support, receptionist, and group member to help develop a full and nuanced understanding of the organisational culture.  

To disseminate and interpret my research findings, I am collaborating with local inclusive arts organisations to produce an exhibition of art made by disabled artists in response to my work. This project is ongoing and invites other inclusive arts spaces to partake in the project.  

Qualifications

• BA Film and Literature (University of Warwick)
• MA Society, Culture and Media (University of Leeds)
• MA Social Research (University of Leeds)