Mr Pat Welsh

Personal Statement

Personal Statement

Senior Lecturer: Drama. School of Music and Performing Arts.

Personal Statement:

I am a Senior Lecturer in the Performing Arts Department and teach on the undergraduate Drama Studies and Performing Arts Programmes. I specialise in comedy and I have particular responsibility for the comedic elements of the undergraduate programmes. I am committed to maximising the opportunities for students to gain performance experience of a professional standard. I have established strong contacts with industry allowing our budding comedians to perform alongside professional comedians at the Comedy Cavern Bath in association with Mirth Control, the largest independent comedy booker in the UK.

I studied Drama and Theatre Studies at Middlesex University gaining invaluable skills in physical theatre, devising, directing, stand up comedy and mask performance. I subsequently gained a wealth of diverse professional experience touring throughout the United Kingdom as an actor with several different theatre companies, directing productions performed at Edinburgh and Glastonbury Contemporary Arts Festivals and working extensively as a street performer in the international arena and as a stand up comedian on the London circuit.

I decided to adjust my focus towards education and after successfully studying for my PGCE I gained a wealth of experience of teaching acting skills to students of all ages. I taught acting skills and directed productions on the BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Studies Programme at Middlesex University before leaving London to start a family and to establish a successful business developing the confidence and communication skills of children and young people through the medium of drama.

Teaching Specialism

Clowning
Fooling
Acting Skills
Stand Up Comedy
Commedia dell' Arte
Masked Performance

Key Publications/Exhibitions/Performances

Produced Comedy Academy Stand Up & Walkabout - Chairman's Ball- Pump Rooms Bath - April 2011

Produced Comedy Academy Stand Up Nights @ Porters, Bath - November 2010 - March 2011

Performed walkabout as 'The Jester' - Glastonbury Festival - June 2010

Director of The Pot of Gold - Bath Comedy Festival - April 2010

Performed walkabout as 'The Jester' - Bath Comedy Festival April 2009

Director of Dick Whittington - Chapel Arts Centre - December 2009

Director of Lysistrata - BSU December 2008

Director of La Salsiccia - Commedia del' Arte - BSU - March 2008

Director of The Government Inspector - BSU June 2007

Shakespeare by the Lake: Hamlet. A site specific promenade performance in the grounds of Bath Spa University at Newton Park and subsequently adapted for the Minach Theatre, Cornwall. Pat played the part of Polonius. March 2006.

Director of Shakespeare on the Street: A collaboration with The Bath Shakespeare Festival. Performing Arts students utilised skills developed in fooling and clowning classes to break through the fourth wall and entertain the general public. March 2006

Director of the Gothic House of Horrors: a site sensitive promenade performance at the Octagon, Bath born out of fooling classes on the Performing Arts Programme exploring a playful response to space. October 2005

Between 1995 - 2001
Extensive tours throughout the UK as actor with Seagull Theatre Company, performing 14 masked characters in two plays with up to 44 children involved.

Director of Ecomental Productions, a theatre ensemble campaigning on environmental issues. Winner of World Wildlife Fund award for innovative work, performing at Edinburgh festival, schools tour and Glastonbury Festival.

Masked performer with Twist in the Tale Theatre Company.

Street performer with Creature Feature, providing innovative, entertaining and diverse street theatre, featuring mask and stilt characters in the international arena and at Buckingham Palace in celebration of the 50th Birthday of the Prince of Wales.

Solo stand up comedian and member of innovative alternative cabaret ensemble, Word Of Mouth, performing on the London comedy circuit.

Current Scholarship

I am currently focussing my research on identifying opportunities for comedic business in Shakespeare productions. All of my research directly informs my teaching and this will impact on both undergraduate programmes and our new MA in Performing Shakespeare.