Head of Research Centre: Performance
From January 2010 to present.
Full Member of Research Centre: Performance
From January 2010 to present.
Ms Mary Oliver
 | Adelphi Building, Peru Street, Salford, M3 6EQ. |
 | M.Oliver@salford.ac.uk |
 | 01612956134 |
 | http://www.maryoliver.net |
Key Memberships
Profile Summary
After almost twenty years of performing in ensemble avant garde performance works, I began a solo performance route in 1998. Since this time I have been performing, researching and writing on Interactive Performance. I am particularly interested in the relationship of the live and the recorded 'virtual' performer and to date have written and performed 10 interactive works in which the live performer performs with a digital partner. This symbiotic inter-relationship of the corporeal presence of the live performer and digital actor, was successfully achieved in 2005, with the making of 'Wednesday Wednesday' a comedy double act, where digital Mary duals with live double for her right to perform as an equal. Since this time I have written and produced five more works which have each attempted to challenge the kind of live performer that we can bring to the stage. In "Almost" I introduced the world's smallest performer, watched with the aid of opera glasses and in "Blue" a live performer duets with an abstract animated entity. Future work will continue to develop the activity of screen writing within the live performance setting and in addition several completely screen based projects are planned.
Key Qualifications
2005
MA Scriptwriting for TV and Radio (from University of Salford).
1996
MA History of Art: Visual Culture (from Manchester Metropolitan University).
Key Projects
2007
Dec
The effects on performance methodology of the introduction of a cartoon performer: from the perspective of the writer and performer
AHRC, £14,373.00.
Investigator: M Oliver (100%).
AHRC, £14,373.00.
Investigator: M Oliver (100%).
Key Publications
Refereed Journal Articles
Book Sections
2008
Jan
Performances
Key Presence
Conference Organisation
2011
May
The As Yet Impossible: in human performance (Lowry Centre, Media City, United Kingdom, May 2011).
Organiser International Symposium on Performance Futures: exploring the as yet impossible in performance, Lowry Centre, Media City. ... more >>.
2007
Nov
New Performance Paradigms (University of Salford, United Kingdom, November 2007).
Organiser International Symposium on New Performance Paradigms: New Languages:more >>.
Conference Presentations
2010
Nov
Talk to me (Consciousness Reframed 11 Making Reality Really Real, Trondheim, Norway, November 2010).
This paper discusses the development of the Talk to Me research project and the proposition that we should be creating more characterful and therefore interfaces.
2010
Nov
Talk to me (Consciousness Reframed 11 Making Reality Really Real, Trondheim, Norway, November 2010).
This paper discusses the development of the Talk to Me research project and the proposition that we should be creating more characterful and therefore interfaces.
2010
Nov
The Screaming Head: making the most of the random attributes of sensors in the construction of an interactive performer (CHART, Birkbeck University , United Kingdom, November 2010).
Oliver, M, (2009) more >>.
2010
Sep
Feminising the Computer Interface through acts of Empathy and Kindness, (TaPRA, University of Glamorgan, United Kingdom, September 2010).
Feminising the Computer Interface through acts of Empathy and Kindness,more >>.
2010
Jun
Vox Populi vox dei:confronting the political through practice (PSI , Toronto , Canada, June 2010).
Vox Populi Vox Dei: confronting the political through practice, PSI
more >>.
External Examiner Duties
2011
Jul
University of Glamorgan (United Kingdom, July 2011).
External Examiner PhD Candidate
2011
Jan
Bedford University (United Kingdom, January 2011).
2010 University of Bedford, PG Cert. Performing for the Camera
2010
Sep
Sheffield University (United Kingdom, September 2010).
2010 University of Sheffield, MA Theatre and Performancemore >>.
2004
Sep
Solent (United Kingdom, September 2004).
2004-7 B.A.Hons Performance, Solent University.
... more >>.Internal University Support Received
2010
Jul
RISF (July 2010).
I successfully applied for funding to organise the As Yet Impossible in human performance symposium performance science conference
Invited Papers and Lectures
2004
Apr
Digital Mothers (Political Futures Conference, University of Reading, United Kingdom, April 2004).
Digital Mothers - Political Futures Conference, University of Reading, April 2004
Journal Editorship
2011
May
International Journal of Performing Arts and Digital Media (May 2011).
I am on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Performing Arts and Digital Media
Media Appearances
2002
Apr
Women's Hour (BBC Radio 4, United Kingdom, April 2002).
I was invited to talk on Women's Hour after developing my show Mother Tongue, on a feature about how women are treated differently according to their accent and quality of voice.
Memberships of External Bodies
2008
Sep
Full Member of TaPRA (United Kingdom, September 2008).
Other University Research Roles
2009
Jan
Chair of Head of the Performance Research Centre (January 2009).
I successfully establised this centre, the first Performance Research Centre formally in 2009 after leading the Performance Research Group since 2006. It has three main specialist sub groups Digital Performance and Live A... more >>.
2007
Feb
Chair of Associate Head of Research (United Kingdom, February 2007 to January 2010).
Associate Head Research MMP Member of MMP Executive Committee Member of AMSS Researcg Committee Member of AMSS Research Executive Faculty Representative Media City Performance laboratory