Dr Tom S Payne BA, MA, PhD, PGCE PcET, FRSA, SFHEA
Senior Lecturer in Performance, Course Leader BA (Hons) Acting and Performance
Summary
I am a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Acting & Performance at Sheffield Hallam University, specialising in site-specific, participatory, and climate-focused performance. I co-direct Doppelgangster, an internationally recognised performance company addressing social and ecological challenges. My research spans performance, community, and ecology, with projects including Ark and Storm-Cloud. I was a panel member for the QAA Subject Benchmark Statements (2024) and serve as an external examiner at Rose Bruford College. As Environmental Champion for Forced Entertainment, I support sustainability initiatives while inspiring students and collaborators to think critically and act creatively.
About
Senior Lecturer in Performance, Course Leader, Co-Director of Doppelgangster, Environmental Champion, and Advocate for Climate-Focused Arts
I am a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Acting & Performance at Sheffield Hallam University. Since taking on this role, I have led a significant transformation of the programme, embedding innovative curriculum design and digital strategies while aligning with the highly skilled employment agenda of the creative industries. These developments have positioned the course among the UK’s top 10 in The Guardian league tables (2023). With over 20 years of experience in higher education, professional theatre, and interdisciplinary research, my practice specialises in site-specific, participatory, relational, and climate-focused performance.
As Co-Director of Doppelgangster, I lead an internationally recognised UK/Australian performance company renowned for creating bold, socially engaged works that address urgent ecological and social challenges. Our notable productions include Doppelgangster’s TITANIC, Everybody Loses, and Radio Plague. I also oversee DeepWater, a unique mentoring programme that develops new productions in collaboration with emerging artists.
My research explores the intersections of performance, community, and ecology. My PhD, Locating National Theatre Wales, examined the company’s launch year practices and developed participatory frameworks that informed my post-doctoral work on the AHRC-funded Towards Hydrocitizenship. This interdisciplinary project engaged UK communities in exploring hydro-social relationships, incorporating digital strategies and participatory arts methodologies inspired by my earlier research.
Currently, I am developing two major projects: Ark, a large-scale interdisciplinary initiative fostering climate dialogue through public performance and community engagement, and Storm-Cloud, an international project that combines art, science, and education to address environmental challenges.
In addition to my academic and creative work, I am the Environmental Champion on the Board of Directors for Forced Entertainment, where I support sustainability initiatives. I also contribute to shaping national academic standards as a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), and Advance HE-registered external examiner. I was a panel member for the revised QAA Subject Benchmark Statements for Dance, Drama, and Performance (2024) and currently serve as an external examiner for Theatre Studies and Opera Studies at Rose Bruford College.
My work bridges the arts, academia, and ecological action, and I am committed to inspiring students, colleagues, and collaborators to think critically, act creatively, and engage meaningfully with the world around them.
https://www.drtompayne.com
Teaching
Sheffield Creative Industries Institute
College of Social Sciences and Arts
Projects
- Ark
- Storm-Cloud
Subject
- Film and Theatre
Courses taught
- BA (Hons) Acting and Performance
Modules taught
- Acting Ensemble
- Change Makers Festival
- Ideas into Action
- Making Comedy
- Drama, Education and the Community
Research
Ark
Storm-Cloud
Link 1: https://www.ark-sheffield.org
Link 2: https://www.ark-bradford.org
Link 3: https://www.storm-cloud.online
Doppelgangster https://www.doppelgangster.com
Publications
Journal articles
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2022). Doppelgangster’s everybody loses: a dramaturgy for extinction. Critical Stages/Scènes Critiques, (26). https://www.critical-stages.org/26/doppelgangsters-everybody-loses-a-dramaturgy-for-extinction/
Udall, J., Shaw, B., Payne, T., Gilmore, J., & Bushaj, Z. (2021). An unfinished lexicon for autonomous publishing. Ephemera: theory and politics in organization, 21 (4).
Buser, M., Payne, T., Dudley, L., & Edizel, Ö. (2018). Blue space as caring space – water and the cultivation of care in social and environmental practice. Social and Cultural Geography. http://doi.org/10.1080/14649365.2018.1534263
Tom Payne, (2017). Dramatizing the Anthropocene through Social Media: The Spatiotemporal Coordinates of Hydrocitizens. Resilience: A Journal of the Environmental Humanities, 5 (1), 100. http://doi.org/10.5250/resilience.5.1.0100
Internet Publications
Payne, T., & Spencer, J. (2022). ark-sheffield. https://www.ark-sheffield.org/
Exhibitions
Payne, T., Udall, J., & De Little, A. (2023). Comes the Flood: Ark Sheffield. [Multi-media installation]. Ruskin Collection, Millennium Gallery, Sheffield Museums.
Payne, T., Udall, J., & De Little, A. (2022). Ark Sheffield: Experimental Climate Lab. The Atrium, Sheffield Hallam University.
Payne, T. (2013). A Spectator Map of Wales. Ty'n yr Helyg Theatre.
Performances
Payne, T., Udall, J., & De Little, A. (2022). Ark Sheffield (at the Crucible Theatre for Together in the City). The Crucible Theatre Live performance.
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2022). Doppelgangster's ATLANTIS. Divadlo Inspirace, Prague Live Performance.
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2022). Doppelgangster's ATLANTIS. The Performance Lab, Sheffield Hallam University Live Performance.
Payne, T., Manderson-Galvin, T., & Lamb, S. (2019). Choke Me. The Performance Lab, Sheffield Hallam University Live performance.
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2019). Cold War. The Local Theatre, Sheffield
Payne, T., Manderson-Galvin, T., & Lamb, S. (2018). TREEFXXXERS. The Performance Lab, Sheffield Hallam University
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2017). Everybody Loses. Performance Tour Live theatrical performance. https://doppelgangster.com/everybody-loses/
Manderson-Galvin, T. (2017). Puntila/Matti. Kings Cross Theatre, Sydney Live Performance.
Scafe Smith, S., Scafe Smith, A., Tolloci, G., Ortiz, C., Villamizar, N., Payne, T., ... De Little, A. (2022). Sheffield Otherwise: a poetry night (Ark Sheffield: Experimental Climate Lab). The Atrium, Sheffield Hallam University
Payne, T., Udall, J., & De Little, A. (2022). Ark Sheffield at Sheffield and District African Carribean Community Association (SADACCA). SADACCA, The Wicker, Sheffield
Payne, T., Udall, J., & De Little, A. (2021). Amplifying Climate Dialogues. The Performance Lab, Sheffield Hallam University
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2019). Cold War. Divadlo Inspirace Live Performance.
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2020). Cold War. RCC, Adelaide, Australia
Payne, T., & Christie, S. (2012). Over Mountain Sand and Sea. The Foundry, Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies
Payne, T. (2012). Apple Pressing Celebration. Ty'n yr Helyg Theatre
Payne, T. (2013). Wassailing. Ty'n yr Helyg Theatre Live event.
Payne, T. (2013). Collecting Sticks and Making Pots. Ty'n yr Helyg Theatre Live event.
Payne, T. (2013). Pit-Firing. Ty'n yr Helyg Theatre Live Event.
Payne, T. (2013). Welcoming Celebration. Ty'n yr Helyg Theatre
Smith, F., & Ralph, P. (2013). Doin' Dirt Time. Ty'n yr Helyg Theatre Performance.
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2015). Doppelgangster's TITANIC. Chapter Arts Centre
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2015). The Final Hour. Ty'n yr Helyg Theatre Live-streamed event.
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2015). Oxygen Support. The Grand Palais, Paris
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2016). Baby. Waterloo Vaults Performance.
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2016). Disinformation Booth. Site Works, Melbourne
Manderson-Galvin, K., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2017). Eternity of the World. Bondi Pavillion Gallery, Sydney
Media
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2021). Bad Reputation (Australian publication). [Serialised Audio Drama]. La Mama Theatre (Melbourne Fringe Festival)
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2021). Bad Reputation (UK Publication). [Serialised audio drama]. Off the Shelf Festival of Words
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2021). Radio Plague. [Audio drama]. Doppelgangster
Bottoms, S. (2017). Too Much of Water. [Video of live performance]. Towards Hydrocitizenship
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2015). Doppelgangster DEAD. [Online video series]. Doppelgangster
Christie, S., & Payne, T. (2011). Standing on the Edge 2. [Online video]. Culture Colony
Christie, S., & Payne, T. (2011). Standing on the Edge 1. [Online video]. Culture Colony
Payne, T., & Christie, S. (2010). Notes from the Edge of the East. [Documentary Film]. Aberystwyth Arts Centre
Payne, T. (2010). NTW06: The Persians (Standing Man). [Video]. PayneChristie
Payne, T., & Christie, S. (2010). Notes from the Edge episode 12: Katie O'Reilly Interview. [Podcast]. PayneChristie
Payne, T., & Christie, S. (2010). Notes from the Edge episode 11: Laura Thomas Interview. [Podcast]. PayneChristie
Payne, T., & Christie, S. (2010). Notes from the Edge episode 10: Marc Rees Interview. [Podcast]. PayneChristie
Payne, T., & Christie, S. (2010). Notes from the Edge episode 7: Helgard Haug (Rimini Protokoll). [Podcast]. PayneChristie
Payne, T., & Christie, S. (2010). Notes from the Edge episode 8: Kully Thiarai Interview (The Soul Exchange). [Podcast]. PayneChristie
Payne, T., & Christie, S. (2010). Notes from the Edge episode 9: Stefan Kaegi interview (Rimini Protokoll). [Podcast]. PayneChristie
Payne, T., & Christie, S. (2010). Notes from the Edge episode 6: Daniel Wetzel (Rimini Protokoll). [Podcast]. PayneChristie
Payne, T., & Christie, S. (2010). Notes from the Edge episode 5: Lucy Davies Interview NTW. [Podcast]. PayneChristie
Payne, T., & Christie, S. (2010). Notes from the Edge episode 4: Sonic Feature 'Blackwood' by Tom Payne. [Podcast]. PayneChristie
Payne, T., & Christie, S. (2010). Notes from the Edge episode 3: Sonic Feature 'M4' by Sam Christie. [Podcast]. PayneChristie
Payne, T., & Christie, S. (2010). Notes from the Edge episode 2: National Theatres in Context - Anwen Jones. [Podcast]. PayneChristie
Payne, T., & Christie, S. (2010). Thoughts from the Edge episode 1: Standing Man. [Podcast]. PayneChristie
Presentations
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2019). Everybody Loses: Elegy in the Anthropocene. Presented at: Theatre and Performance Research Association, University of Exeter
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2019). Everybody Loses. Presented at: Creating Knowledge Conference, Sheffield Hallam University
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2018). An Archaeology of Making: The Processes behind Doppelgangster’s ‘Everybody Loses. Presented at: Theoretical Archaeology Group Conference, Chester University
Payne, T., & Manderson-Galvin, T. (2018). Everybody Loses: ‘A Piercing Twin Wound’. Presented at: International Conference on Environmental Humanities, Universidad de Alcalá, 2018
Other publications
Scafe Smith, A., Scafe Smith, S., Ortiz, C., Villamizar, N., Tolloci, G., Payne, T., ... Udall, J. (2022). Sheffield Otherwise: Final Presentations & Celebrations (Ark Sheffield: Experimental Climate Lab). RESOLVE Collective
Scafe Smith, A., Scafe Smith, S., Ortiz, C., Villamizar, N., Tolloci, G., Payne, T., ... Udall, J. (2022). Sheffield Otherwise: Final Presentations & Celebrations (Ark Sheffield: Experimental Climate Lab). RESOLVE Collective
Payne, T., Udall, J., & De Little, A. (2022). Ark Sheffield: Experimental Climate Lab (audio workshop). Future Now Festival
Payne, T., Scafe Smith, S., Scafe Smith, A., Udall, J., & De Little, A. (2022). Ark Sheffield: Experimental Climate Lab (ark building workshop). Future Now Festival
Scafe Smith, S., & Scafe Smith, A. (2022). Sheffield Otherwise: Reflections on Local (Ark Sheffield: Experimental Climate Lab). RESOLVE Collective
Payne, T., & Woolley, N. (2022). The Big Read 'How to Save Our Planet' (performance, lecture, screening). Sheffield Hallam University
Projects
In addition to teaching on the BA (Hons) Performance, Tom has been involved in the following projects here at Sheffield Hallam University:
Radio Plague (2020) by Doppelgangster. Presented at the Prague Fringe Festival (online). Role: co-creator and performer.
Choke Me (2019) by Doppelgangster. Presented at Off the Shelf Festival, Sheffield. Role: co-creator and co-director.
Cold War (2019) by Doppelgangster. Presented at the Prague Fringe Festival. Role: co-creator and performer.
TREEFXXXERS (2018) by Doppelgangster. Presented as part of Season for Change, and the National Tree Charter. Performance Lab, Sheffield. Role: co-creator and co-director
ATLANTIS (2018) by Doppelgangster. Developed with support from Sheffield Theatres and presented at the Performance Lab, Sheffield.
Role: co-creator and performer.
Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. (2017-18) by Bryan McCormack. Presented at the Brownstone Foundation, Paris. Role: digital documentation and performer.
Everybody Loses (2017) by Doppelgangster. Developed with support from Aberystwyth Arts Centre and MKA Theatre. Premiered at Aberystwyth Arts Centre. International tour includes: Paris, London, Madrid, Athens, Singapore, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
Role: co-creator and performer. Role: co-creator and performer.
Marie Roget by Doppelgangster (2017) by Doppelgangster. Presented at Off the Shelf Festival. The Winter Gardens, Sheffield. Role: co-creator and co-director.
Puntila / Matti (2017) by Doppelgangster. Presented at KXT Sydney. Role: dramaturg.In addition to teaching on the BA (Hons) Performance, Tom has been involved in the following projects here at Sheffield Hallam University:
Postgraduate supervision
Tom is the second supervisor on a Departmental PhD project, and welcomes PhD proposals that reflect his areas of expertise.
Tom completed the Doctoral Supervisor Development Programme (Sheffield Hallam University, 2018).
Media
Hallam-related social media:
https://www.shuperformance.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/shuperformance
https://www.twitter.com/shuperformance
https://www.instagram.com/shuperformance