Brief Encounter with Jonathan Bate
Jonathan 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.