Rebecca O'Leary

I am originally from Shropshire, England, but moved to NZ with my family at the age of 16 and have lived in Auckland ever since. Unsurprisingly, I enjoy reading! And I love visiting anywhere I can learn, like the museum and the art gallery. I also try to play the piano when I can (not particularly well I might add!).

Being a single mum means I don't have huge amounts of hobby time but I treasure spending time with my son – we love to go on adventures (no matter how big or small), to bake, and to have movie nights with homemade pizzas.

I would love to take my son to see the amazing ancient sites and sights in Greece and Italy as I was lucky enough to supervise a school trip there before he was born and would love to share it with him and therefore experience it in a completely different way.

Being a mum is both my priority and passion. It is hard to distil my intellectual and empathetic passions into one answer, but I think advocating for those whose voices are silenced and/or disbelieved has always been incredibly important to me and is even more so now in the context of my research. 

The working title is currently “Where Will It End? Staging Domestic Violence in Contemporary Theatre”, but this is subject to change as the work evolves. 

I studied French, German and English Literature at the University of Auckland and realised that English Literature combined my passions for language, linguistics and literature and so I pursued it more. I did my Master's Degree and considered doing my Doctorate, but opted to do my PGDip Teaching (Secondary) and enjoyed being a high school English teacher for many years.

Once I had my son, circumstances and my lived experience brought me to a point where I could return to do my Doctorate – so here I am – and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to do such important and fulfilling work.

I hope that my research can contribute to a real turn in the tide, where victims of domestic violence are heard, and decisions and changes are made as a result. Our legal and social systems do not serve victims well and often re-traumatise them, whilst our economic, social and cultural structures allow domestic violence to thrive.

Whilst people say domestic violence is “bad”, no one is making the necessary changes to protect victims or to support them when they have left a violent relationship. I want to be part of creating action, helping others, and shifting attitudes. 

I would love an academic career as it would combine my passion for teaching with my interest in research, although I am not sure how realistic that is in the Arts in the current climate. I would enjoy any role where I support/help others, whether it be teaching, victim advocacy, policy work etc. Who knows what might be out there once I have graduated?!

Christopher Marlowe – I wrote my Master’s Thesis about him and would just love to meet the real man and compare the truth to all the stories that have been told (and made up!) about him.

Frida Kahlo – I would love to hear all of her life stories – the mix of vulnerability, strength, passion, creativity – she is a feminist icon.

Marie Curie – she had such a brilliant mind and strong moral compass – I think she would be amazing company!

Stephen Fry – he is my intellectual and comedy hero – he fascinates me!