ashabtay


Abigail Shabtay

Photo of Abigail Shabtay

Department of Humanities

Assistant Professor

Email: ashabtay@yorku.ca


Dr. Abigail Shabtay is an Assistant Professor in the Children, Childhood, and Youth program in the Department of Humanities. She is also appointed to the graduate programs in Theatre and Performance Studies, Education, Communication and Culture, and Humanities. Dr. Shabtay has received awards for excellence in teaching and research in her field, including the Humanities Award for Teaching Excellence (2020-2021), the York Student Accessibility Award (2020-2021), the Ada Slaight Drama in Education Award (2018-2019), the Jackie Kirk Fieldwork Award (2018-2019), and the DISE Outstanding Teaching Award (2018). Dr. Shabtay’s research focuses on children’s rights, social justice, child-centred research methodologies, experiential pedagogies, theatre with children and youth, youth activism, and drama-based participatory action research. She is currently the Principal Investigator for four SSHRC-funded projects related to children, youth, and the performing arts. She has served on organizing committees for seven academic conferences in her field and is the Chair of the annual "Children, Youth and Performance Conference".

Note: I take graduate primary supervision very seriously, and only accept graduate students if I have the required time and expertise to support their work: this support typically begins before the student applies at York. If you are a student applying to a graduate program at York and would like to work with me, please ensure that you reach out to me before listing me as a potential primary supervisor.

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Degrees

PhD, McGill University
MA, King's College London (UK)

Research Interests

Children , Youth, Youth Activism, Social Justice, Drama-Based Research, Children's Rights

Current Research Projects

COVID-19: Re-Conceptualizing Young People's Theatre's Collaborative Playwriting Program for Digitally Mediated Spaces (SSHRC-funded)

    Summary:

    The overarching goal of this project is to address a children's theatre's challenge of re-conceptualizing its collaborative playwriting for an online context, and gain an understanding children's perspectives, engagement and reception of the program.

    See more
    Role: Principal Investigator

Children, Youth and Performance Conference III: Performative Praxis (SSHRC-funded)

    Summary:

    The goal of this initiative is to facilitate conversations about the applications and implications of performance work with, by, for and about children and youth. This project is an interdisciplinary exchange of knowledge among researchers, practitioners, artists, and community organizers whose work focuses on performance and young people.

    See more
    Role: Principal Investigator

Creating Children's Theatre in a Digital World (SSHRC-funded)

    Summary:

    The overarching goal of this project is to address a touring theatre organization's challenge of developing live performances for children in an online setting during the pandemic.

    See more
    Role: Principal Investigator

Adapting Drama-Based Methods for Research with Children and Youth (SSHRC-funded)

    Summary:

    The overall aim of this research project is to identify best practices for using drama-based methods in participatory research with children and youth, using a rights-based and critical child and youth studies approach.

    See more
    Role: Principal Investigator

Children, Youth and Performance Conference IV: Reflective Resurgence (SSHRC-funded)

    Summary:

    This conference connects academic researchers, practitioners, artists, educators, students and community organizers, focusing on new approaches and reflections regarding performance work with, by, for and about children and youth. It is driven by the themes of [1] equity, diversity and inclusivity in the performing arts; [2] digital and hybrid performances by, with, for, and about children and young people; [3] sustainability and well-being in child-centred performance work; [4] queerness in performances and theatre for young audiences; and, [5] learning and unlearning through the performing arts.

    See more
    Role: Principal Investigator


Dr. Abigail Shabtay is an Assistant Professor in the Children, Childhood, and Youth program in the Department of Humanities. She is also appointed to the graduate programs in Theatre and Performance Studies, Education, Communication and Culture, and Humanities. Dr. Shabtay has received awards for excellence in teaching and research in her field, including the Humanities Award for Teaching Excellence (2020-2021), the York Student Accessibility Award (2020-2021), the Ada Slaight Drama in Education Award (2018-2019), the Jackie Kirk Fieldwork Award (2018-2019), and the DISE Outstanding Teaching Award (2018). Dr. Shabtay’s research focuses on children’s rights, social justice, child-centred research methodologies, experiential pedagogies, theatre with children and youth, youth activism, and drama-based participatory action research. She is currently the Principal Investigator for four SSHRC-funded projects related to children, youth, and the performing arts. She has served on organizing committees for seven academic conferences in her field and is the Chair of the annual "Children, Youth and Performance Conference".

Note: I take graduate primary supervision very seriously, and only accept graduate students if I have the required time and expertise to support their work: this support typically begins before the student applies at York. If you are a student applying to a graduate program at York and would like to work with me, please ensure that you reach out to me before listing me as a potential primary supervisor.

Degrees

PhD, McGill University
MA, King's College London (UK)

Research Interests

Children , Youth, Youth Activism, Social Justice, Drama-Based Research, Children's Rights

Current Research Projects

COVID-19: Re-Conceptualizing Young People's Theatre's Collaborative Playwriting Program for Digitally Mediated Spaces (SSHRC-funded)

    Summary:

    The overarching goal of this project is to address a children's theatre's challenge of re-conceptualizing its collaborative playwriting for an online context, and gain an understanding children's perspectives, engagement and reception of the program.

    Project Type: Funded
    Role: Principal Investigator

Children, Youth and Performance Conference III: Performative Praxis (SSHRC-funded)

    Summary:

    The goal of this initiative is to facilitate conversations about the applications and implications of performance work with, by, for and about children and youth. This project is an interdisciplinary exchange of knowledge among researchers, practitioners, artists, and community organizers whose work focuses on performance and young people.

    Project Type: Funded
    Role: Principal Investigator

Creating Children's Theatre in a Digital World (SSHRC-funded)

    Summary:

    The overarching goal of this project is to address a touring theatre organization's challenge of developing live performances for children in an online setting during the pandemic.

    Project Type: Funded
    Role: Principal Investigator

Adapting Drama-Based Methods for Research with Children and Youth (SSHRC-funded)

    Summary:

    The overall aim of this research project is to identify best practices for using drama-based methods in participatory research with children and youth, using a rights-based and critical child and youth studies approach.

    Project Type: Funded
    Role: Principal Investigator

Children, Youth and Performance Conference IV: Reflective Resurgence (SSHRC-funded)

    Summary:

    This conference connects academic researchers, practitioners, artists, educators, students and community organizers, focusing on new approaches and reflections regarding performance work with, by, for and about children and youth. It is driven by the themes of [1] equity, diversity and inclusivity in the performing arts; [2] digital and hybrid performances by, with, for, and about children and young people; [3] sustainability and well-being in child-centred performance work; [4] queerness in performances and theatre for young audiences; and, [5] learning and unlearning through the performing arts.

    Project Type: Funded
    Role: Principal Investigator