Postgraduate and alumna news

Peter Sutton presented at a public engagement event at the Maltings Theatre, Berwick-upon-Tweed on 26 May which gave an insight into the creative process behind Byre Opera's forthcoming production of Handel's Xerxes. Peters’ presentation focused on eighteenth century attitudes to opera and national identity. Other speakers included Michael Downes (Director of Music), Sean Heath (School of History and Music Centre), Gregor Donnelly (professional set and costume designer) and Katie Grosset (former Scottish Opera emerging artist). The opera will be performed in St Andrews from 22-24 June before transferring to Berwick and London.

Dr Rose Harris-Birtill has won a McCall MacBain Teaching Excellence Award for her outstanding contribution to pedagogy for her invited talk at the English: Shared Futures conference held in Newcastle. Her presentation, 'Literature as 'alternative facts': the importance of English Studies in the 'post-truth' era', was commended by the judging panel for its potential to influence teaching practice by demonstrating how literary study can be used to teach contentious issues.