Language and Linguistics at University of Essex

12/10/2026

You are invited to the inaugural SLLaM Seminar!

Thursday Oct 15
4PM
Room: TC 2.14

THE EVOLUTION OF UGANDAN SIGN LANGUAGE
Dr Sam Lutalo-Kiingi
Kyambogo University

The format is a presentation followed by time for discussion.

09/10/2026

Congratulations to SLLaM Senior Lecturer Holly Pester on this recent public recognition of her work! 🤩

Essex poet Dr Holly Pester has been shortlisted for the 2026 T. S. Eliot Prize - the “world’s top poetry award” - for her collection Cafés.

Published by Fitzcarraldo Editions , the collection explores work, friendship, love, community and reflection through the café.

The prestigious prize celebrates the best new poetry collections published in the UK and Ireland, with the winner receiving £25,000.

26/09/2026

🎭 LIGHTSTREAMS is hitting the road!

New play *Lightstreams* by Essex playwright and Senior Lecturer Dr Mary Mazzilli tours 11 venues across England this autumn, spotlighting the experiences of migrant care workers.

The tour opens at Colchester’s Mercury Theatre, followed by a special post-show panel exploring migration, care and community.

🎟️ 11 venues | England | This autumn

A new play by Essex playwright and Senior Lecturer Dr Mary Mazzilli will tour England this autumn, shining a light on the experiences of migrant care workers. The 11-venue tour begins at Colchester’s Mercury Theatre with a special post-show panel discussion.

25/09/2026

Last month, Dr Tasos Giapoutzis presented his recent book "Nostalgia and Displacement in Contemporary European Cinema" at the 11th Beyond Borders International Documentary Festival. The festival took place from 23 to 30 August 2026 and brought together filmmakers, researchers and film organisations from Greece and internationally.

Published by Palgrave Macmillan earlier this year, the book explores how contemporary European films engage with nostalgia, migration, displacement, memory and belonging. It is also available Open Access.

The book is available (open access) here: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-17670-7

25/09/2026

🎭 MARA premieres in London this October!

Dr Eirini Konstantinidou’s MARA comes to Hen & Chickens Theatre, London, from 9–11 October.

Written by Robin King and Dr Konstantinidou and directed by Konstantinidou, this gripping solo performance follows a newly pregnant woman trapped in an office basement as she races to reach a crucial custody hearing for her eight-year-old daughter.

The production marks Dr Konstantinidou’s move from screen to stage, following her award-winning feature film Mnemophrenia.

Essex filmmaker brings cinematic storytelling to the stage with world premiere of MARA

23/09/2026

Congratulations to Dr Karen Roehr-Brackin on a recent co-authored publication! 📄

The article reports on experimental work exploring the role of cognitive abilities in language learning. See the full article at this link: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0272263126101880

22/09/2026

Dr Sarah Louise Smyth was on BBC Essex yesterday to discuss recent film and TV shows that people should check out. 🎬🍿📺

Have you been watching Furious (Disney +)?

Have you heard about upcoming files The Social Reckoning (in cinemas 9th Oct) and Sense and Sensibility (in cinemas on Friday)?

What do you think about Colin From Accounts (BBC iPlayer) or Youth (HBO Max)?

Here’s the link to the episode (Dr Smith is on about at 1 hour 39 mins in): https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0031g2y

04/09/2026

Introducing the School of Language, Literature and Media at the University of Essex!

The new school joins together the Department of Language and Linguistics and the Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies.

Learn more about the degrees and research from the School of Language, Literature, and Media at the University of Essex.

10/08/2026

Love language but not sure where it could take you?

English Language and Linguistics develops analytical thinking, research and communication skills that employers value across a huge range of industries.

If you're still deciding what to study, Clearing is your chance to choose a course that helps you understand people while preparing you for a career where communication matters.

📚 Explore BA English Language and Linguistics through Clearing today.

22/05/2026

The Africa Special Interest Group is hosting an African Linguistics Day on the theme of “The future of African languages”.

All are welcome!

Thursday 11th June 2026, 10:30-16:30
Room: NTC.1.02
Colchester Campus, University of Essex