CV & international cooperations

Dr. Koku G. Nonoa

Assistant-postdoctorant (Postdoctoral researcher/Research associate)

Industrial Fellowships/Public-private research collaborations, FNR

Unité de Recherche IPSE (Identités, Politiques, Sociétés, Espaces)
Institut für deutsche Sprache, Literatur und für Interkulturalität

Université du Luxembourg
Maison des Sciences Humaines
11, Porte des Sciences
L-4366 Esch-sur-Alzette                                                                                                              

Tel.: 00352 466644-6094
koku.nonoa@uni.lu 

Website: [Link]

PREVIOUS POSITION

08/2013-06/2018: PhD student, University assistant/Comparative Literature and active research member in the research area "Cultural Encounters - Cultural Conflicts" of the University of Innsbruck.

EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

From March 2019: Postdoctoral researcher (Industrial Fellowships, FNR), University of Luxembourg

06/2018  Ph.D., Comparative Literature / Literature and Cultural Studies, University of Innsbruck  / PhD thesis: "Gegenkulturelle Tendenzen im postdramatischen Theater"

08/2013-06/2018 Study in Doctoral Programme Literature and Cultural Studies, University of Innsbruck

2007-2008 Postgraduate Diploma in Pluridisciplinary Studies (Diplôme d'études approfondies pluridisciplinaires), University of Lomé / Thesis "Vom epischen zum intermedialen Theater: Untersuchung an Bertolt Brechts Stück Der aufhaltsame Aufstieg des Arturo Ui"

2001-2006 Master in Intercultural German Studies, University of Lomé / Thesis: "Die verlorene Menschlichkeit in Peter Weiss' Dokumentarstück Die Ermittlung: Dokumentartheater als wirklichkeitstreues Theater" 

EXPERTISE (COMBINING RESEARCH AND THEATRE PRACTICE)

My main interests are in theatre and performing arts bridging between theory and practice. My passion is starting from theory and academic research and finding corresponding artistic and aesthetic methods for concrete theater practices. My analytical work focuses not only on the result but also on the process of performativity. This enables to experiment, observe, and understand how academic and epistemological insights can shape concrete issues of reality in an experimental "space in-between": In order to achieve this goal, I have developed a synergy of diverse workforces, knowledge from different disciplines, competences, and experiences through teamwork, co-research, co-creation, co-production and co-performance. This synergy enables the construction of the aesthetic space in-between where people can present, reflect and interpret in real time and space different situations with the possibility of taking action to transform those situations or to show options for other insights.

Particularly, I value research that has an interdisciplinary approach and enables the building of research networks inside and outside academia. For epistemological innovation and methodological creativity I seek to work with people from different socio-cultural backgrounds. (See "Mach Theater!" and "ZWEI ABENDE ÜBER DIE KUNST ANDERS ZU DENKEN" )

My research fields are: Theories and forms of "pre-dramatic", dramatic and post-dramatic theatre in Europa and Africa / Ritual, performativity and transculturality in contemporary theatre / African pre-colonial and ancient Greek ritual, religion and theatre / Performing arts, Theater Practice and Epistemology, Theater and Migration, Theater and Institutional Critique

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

07/2017-06/2018 University Assistant and teaching activities, Department of Language and Literature, Comparative Literature / University of Innsbruck.

04/2016 Co-planing and co-teaching, Institute of Romance Languages and Literatures, University of Innsbruck in the context of the programme of "Writer in Residence 2016".

2011-2013 University Assistant, Department of German Studies / University of Lomé.

2005-2010 Teaching activities: French and German as Foreign Language and Introduction into Informatics, Lomé in Grammar School, Lomé (Togo).

2002- 2005 Tourist guide and und coordinator of German speaking tourist guides for the travel Agency "Alba Travel Services" in Togo and Benin.

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN THEATRE

Realizations of artistic and theatrical projects as actor/performer, stage director and theatre, production assistant [Link].

SCHOLARSHIPS/GRANTS & INTERNATIONAL CONNEXIONS

• From 01/03/2019: Postdoc Grant, Industiral Fellowships / "Public-private research collaborations" of the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR) for postdoctoral research stay and training inside academia at the University of Luxembourg / Unité Research unit IPSE (Identities. Policies, Societies, Spaces) and outside academia in the company  COOPERATIONS Entreprises socio-culturelles  in Luxembourg. 
• 01 - 0/3 2016 & 09/2016 - 05/2017 Marietta Blau Grant OEAD financed by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy (BMWFW) for research stays at the Université du Luxembourg / Faculté des Lettres, des Sciences Humaines, des Arts et des Sciences de l'Education in the context of the project "Prozesse der Internationalisierung im Theater der Gegenwart" and at the Department of Drama and Film / Faculty of Arts , Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria/South Africa.
• 2013-2016 PhD scholarship of the University of Innsbruck.
  
• 05/2012 Scholarship for participating in the 48th International Forum 2012, Theatertreffen / BerlinerFestspiele  as actor and performer.
• 05/2011 Scholarship for participating in the 15th "Internationale Übersetzerwerkstatt des Internationalen Theaterinstituts, Berlin/Mülheim" as translator.
  
• 07-08/2009 PhD scholarship for "4.Internationale DAAD-Meisterklasse", Deutsches Literaturarchiv Marbach.