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Brief Encounter with Jonathan Bate

Jonathan BateJonathan Bate is the Professor of Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature in the Department for English and Comparative Literary Studies.

Professor Bate has been instrumental in setting up a new £4.5m government-funded research centre in partnership with the RSC. The new partnership will use theatre performance skills and experience to enhance student learning and will draw deep on University research and resources to shape the development of the RSC acting companies.

Position
Professor of Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature

Which means
Lecturing over-theatrically, broadcasting and 'popular' publishing as well as hardcore research.

Favourite phrase
Madonna's motto: Just Do It

Least favourite phrase
Any management-speak heard on a committee

Magazines read
Times Literary Supplement, Vanity Fair

Life before Warwick
Cambridge, time in USA, 13 years in a chair at Liverpool

Smartest Career Move
Leaving Cambridge

Best thing about working at Warwick
More of a 'can do' attitude than at most universities in the UK

Worst thing about working at Warwick
Parking

Lifelong ambition
To score a century at cricket (done and bat now hung up) and to write a book that will be remembered long after I am dead (who can say?)

People are always surprised to learn this about me, but...
Seriously thought about career as a conjuror

What has life's experience taught you so far?
Risky choices are usually the best ones; safe options can waste years

Major achievement to date?
Big literary prize for my last book

What do you treasure most?
Time with my 6 and 4 year olds

Any hidden talents?
Splitting logs

If you could change one thing in the University overnight, what would it be?
Paperwork load

Your favourite hobby or pastime?
Recently changed my Who's Who entry: gardening instead of cricket. Damn middle age.