Department of Music

If you wish to get in touch with our administrative staff, please see the admin staff contact page.

Image of Hannah Thuraisingam Robbins

Hannah Thuraisingam Robbins

Associate Professor in Popular Music/Director of Black Studies, Faculty of Arts

Contact

Biography

Hannah is an expert on identity in popular culture, focusing on race, gender, and belonging in musical theatre and film. They have published on topics ranging from The Wizard of Oz and Kiss Me, Kate to Frozen and Hamilton. They are the current Director of Black Studies at the University of Nottingham, combining their interests in positionality, lived experience, and "own-voice" representation with music and film studies.

In addition to their work on musicals, Hannah is committed to equity in education and the performing arts. Hannah runs workshops and offers 1:1s to support students from underrepresented backgrounds access Masters and PhD study. They also offer senstivity readership, consultancy, and training on topics related to race, casting, identity, and care work in the public and private sectors.

Expertise Summary

Hannah's general areas of expertise include:

  • the American musical
  • the British musical
  • Disney on stage and screen
  • identity studies, positionality, and equality
  • race and gender on the musical stage
  • Cole Porter
  • Lena Horne
  • Black feminism and music

Teaching Summary

Hannah has taught on a range of modules in musicology, musical theatre, and film. Her interests lie in twentieth-century popular culture, including musical theatre, song on screen, and stardom. She… read more

Research Summary

Hannah is in the process of preparing and publishing a series of texts on the work and life of Cole Porter, including a monograph on the hit musical Kiss Me, Kate (Oxford University Press). She is… read more

Department of Music

The University of Nottingham
Lakeside Arts Centre
University Park
Nottingham, NG7 2RD

Admission enquiries
All other enquiries
- Telephone: +44 (0)115 951 5841
- Email: music-enquiries@nottingham.ac.uk
Twitter