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 King Alfred’s College. 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, analysis of performance texts, theatre ‘history’, and documentary theatre. 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.  In 2018 I founded the Second Chance Theatre Project in collaboration with NICRO and the Western Cape Dept of Correctional Services, that investigates social reintegration of offenders, health and wellbeing through theatre.
Website: www.secondchancetheatre.org
I am also the co-editor of the South African Theatre Journal and can be contacted at satj@uct.ac.za regarding submissions and proposals.
 
Recent Publications:
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.
 
Anthony Jackson, Veronica Baxter & Jeffrey Tan; 2018. Mapping the archives: 9; Research in Drama Education (RIDE) 23:1; pp 126-135.
 
Parent, S, Erlich, R, Yassi, A, Baxter, V, Kannemeyer, N. ‘Occupational health and TB: a feasibility study of participatory theatre with South African healthcare workers’; The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. 21 (2). 2017. pp140-148.
 
Applied Theatre: Performing Health – co-written and edited by Veronica Baxter and Katharine Low (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London), published by Methuen Bloomsbury books, 2017.