Tamar Knott

Thesis

Thesis

Accessible Shakespeare Streaming: (post-)pandemic accessibility of on-demand live-recorded Shakespeare productions

• Supervisor: Professor Mariana López

Tamar’s research aims to expand upon the emerging fields of both digital theatre accessibility and post-pandemic theatre studies. Through reflexive thematic analysis of qualitative survey responses, prioritising the lived experience and intersectionality of disabled people and people with access needs in the UK, they will assess the current state of accessibility of on-demand live-recorded Shakespeare performance and identify possible areas of inaccessibility. This will then be used to help find potential solutions and improvements which productions and their distributors can take to ensure increased accessibility of their work to the vast number of disabled people in this country and across the globe.

In addition to this primary research focus, Tamar’s work also looks closely at survey design accessibility, accessible language use, and ways to improve access and inclusion in research participation and academia.

Biography

Biography

A part-time postgraduate researcher, Tamar specialises in inclusive interdisciplinary arts practice, applying creative technology and digital media to theatre and transmedia narratives. They hold a foundation diploma in Art and Design and a BA (Hons) in Media and Creative Writing from the University for the Creative Arts. Since 2015, Tamar has centred their academic work on Shakespeare's plays in film, television, and digital media, and how these are made accessible to audiences.

Tamar has acted as Research Assistant on work into the impact of AI on the media and entertainment sector, and Conference Assistant for conferences in both York and London. They also provide Easy Read English resource development and accessible digital content production.

Tamar has a professional background in documentary film production, marketing, and  fundraising. They are a published writer, trained dancer, amateur actor, sometimes falconer, and volunteer English language and digital skills tutor for refugees and asylum seekers.

Research

Research Interests

Disability, accessibility, and inclusivity
Shakespeare in the 21st century
Digital media, film, and television
Innovative performance technology
Literary adaptation
Transmedia narratives
Immersive media experiences in the digital age
Streaming culture
Broadcast performance
Cultural value and the high art / popular culture divide
Accessible language, translation and interpretation
Accessibility and inclusion in academia

External activity

External activity

Conference Assistant - British Shakespeare Association Conference, York, 2025 (University of York)
Conference Assistant - DARCI Conference, York, 2025 (University of York)
Conference Assistant - Collections & Research Day, with Spalding Gentlemen’s Society,
London, 2025 (Society of Antiquaries, London)Conference Assistant - Early Career Antiquaries Day, London, 2026 (Society of Antiquaries, London)

Easy Read Translator - 2025 Easy Read Programme, York Disability Week
Easy Read Translator - 2025 Indicator Report, York Human Rights City Network, Centre for Applied Human Rights, University of York