I studied at the University of Natal (now the University of KwaZulu-Natal), completed a postgraduate module at New York University with Augusto Boal, and completed my PhD on educational theatre and aesthetics at Southampton University via Winchester University. I have taught at higher education institutions in South Africa and the United Kingdom, and schools-based education in Botswana and South Africa.
 

My research practice is broadly in the field of applied theatre and drama and developing appropriate research methods to evaluate the impact of drama, theatre and performance. My teaching praxis is focused on aspects of research methodologies for undergraduate and postgraduate students, applied theatre and drama, and am currently compiling a digital archive based on theatre in health education, reflecting on significant projects and companies in South Africa since the 1980s. 
 

I convene undergraduate courses in Applied Performance, the MA by Research, MA Applied Theatre and PhD programmes. Supervision interests include applied theatre and drama, with special interest in health and wellbeing, South African and African theatre, aesthetics and documentary performance.  
 

I am Editor of the South African Theatre Journal and can be contacted at satj@uct.ac.za regarding submissions and proposals.

Recent Publications:
Fleishman, M. and Baxter, V. 2023. Introduction. South African Theatre Journal 35(3), 149-154.

Baxter, V. 2020. Intimate Exposure: Solo Women Performing in Post-Apartheid South Africa. (Eds) Marc and Jessica Maufort. Forays into Contemporary South African Theatre. Devising New Stage Idioms. Brill Publishers, the Netherlands.

Baxter, V and Mtshali, M. 2020. This shit is political; shit is real, co-authored with Dr Mbongeni Mtshali, in Studies in Theatre and Performance (STP) Edition: Housing, Performance and Activism: Thinking with performance in times of crisis. 40.1. pp70-82.