Research Assistant – Theatronomics, 1 FTE, School of English, Media and Creative Arts, 011583

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a full-time, fixed term position as a Research Assistant with the School of English Media and Creative Arts at the University of Galway, Ireland.  

This position is funded by the European Research Council and is available from April 1, 2026 to contract end date of 30 September, 2026. 

Project Description 

The project, Theatronomics, investigates the finances of eighteenth-century theatre in London, focusing on the two major theatres, Covent Garden and Drury Lane, 1732–1809. Account-books, ledgers, and ephemeral manuscript folios, held mainly at the British Library and the Folger Library, are the project's main sources; they contain extensive data on ticket sales, audience composition, actor salaries, payments to other theatre workers, repayments to investors, costume, scenery and other costs.  

The project has transcribed and digitized these manuscripts in order to analyse the theatres’ underlying commercial operations. The project will develop new perspectives on the careers of managers, playwrights, actors, and plays. By synthesizing this complex data, Theatronomics will further enable us, by interacting with other datasets, to ask new interdisciplinary questions about the place of theatre within the city of London. The project’s beta website (www.theatronomics.com) will be a key resource for the next generation of eighteenth-century theatre studies. 

The successful candidate will be based in the Hardiman Research Building.  

Salary: Research Assistant salary scale €33,291 - €43,372 per annum, (subject to the project’s funding limitations), and pro rata for shorter and/or part-time contracts.  

Closing date for receipt of applications is 17:00 (Irish Time) on 19 February 2026.  It will not be possible to consider applications received after the closing date.