The Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies is proud to announce that PhD student Amin Azimi has been awarded a prestigious SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship, receiving $80,000 over two years to support his dissertation research.
Azimi’s project, Dissensus Dramaturgy: Politics of Aesthetics in Iranian and Diasporic Theatrical Practices (Post-2009), explores how contemporary Iranian and diasporic theatre mobilizes dramaturgy—archival, essayistic, and audience-engaging strategies—to imagine politics differently under conditions of censorship, displacement, and transnational life.
“I’m inspired by artists who create space for unheard experiences and by my own work between scholarship and practice,” Azimi shared. “A central aim of my project is to introduce contemporary Iranian theatre—its artists, forms, and achievements—to broader international audiences and scholarly conversations.”
Drawing on Jacques Rancière’s concept of dissensus, Azimi defines “dissensus dramaturgy” as a set of theatrical strategies—such as participatory spectatorship, documentary performance, and hybrid live/digital forms—that redistribute attention and contest dominant narratives. His work contributes a teachable framework for the political work of form, expands dramaturgy debates beyond Euro-American contexts, and demonstrates how theatre catalyzes civic imagination across borders.
Azimi chose CDTPS for its unique support of theory–practice scholarship and community-engaged research. “Toronto’s diasporic arts ecology and archives make it an ideal field site,” he noted, “and the mentorship—especially with Dr. Jacob Gallagher-Ross—aligns with my intellectual and creative trajectory.”
Receiving the SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship is a deeply affirming milestone for Azimi. His application scored 11.22/12 and was selected in a highly competitive pool of 2,281 applicants.
“Because my first language is Farsi and my research works across Persian- and English-language archives and communities, this recognition feels especially meaningful,” he said. “The cross-linguistic labour is demanding, but it also generates unique insights that I’m eager to bring to U of T and beyond,” said Azimi.
The fellowship will support interviews with artists, archival and performance analysis, and public-facing outputs that connect Canadian and transnational audiences. Upcoming projects include a bilingual (Farsi/English) performance titled Learning New Weathers, a community-engaged documentary-theatre workshop, and the preparation of conference papers and dissertation chapters for publication.
We congratulate Amin on this remarkable achievement and look forward to the continued evolution of his work.