I am a cultural historian. I specialise in the intersection between race and gender in the American musical. I am also an advocate for equality in British education.
I grew up between Kensal Rise and Ladbroke Grove in north west London before going to the University of Sheffield. While there, I completed a BMus in Music and PhD in Musicology. In 2018/19, I carried out postdoctorate project on Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon (1947) and am now based at the University of Nottingham where I am an Assistant Professor in Popular Music.
My research interests include the life and work of Cole Porter and the role and representation of Black creatives in musical theatre history. I am currently writing my first book on the hit musical Kiss Me, Kate (1948) due for publication in 2021. I am also working on publications about film star Lena Horne, and on intersectionality in musical theatre.
I am an experienced and enthusiastic public speaker. I have spoken on topics ranging from Hamilton to Cole Porter’s composition process to the need for decolonisation in the British university. I have co-convened several conferences on musical theatre. I have also been part or founded several online collectives connecting BIPOC scholars around the world.
Together with Renée Landell and Leighan Renaud, I am a co-curator of the international network Black in Arts and Humanities. I am also the Publishing Partnerships Officer for the Free Black University. I donate my time to support Black and queer people access higher education. In my down time, I am one half of The Black Book Challenge, championing geographically diverse publications by Black women and trans spectrum authors.
Hannah Marie Robbins 