Theatrical Troupes and Academic Nomads

Reflections after a performance in Belgrade

Yesterday, I attended a touring theatre production of The Suitcase based on Dovlatov’s work, here in Belgrade. I really enjoyed the performance — but that’s not the point.

As I watched the actors on stage, I suddenly thought about the similarities between them and scholars who have left Russia. Both actors and academics often struggle to find a stable place in a new country. This isn’t always due to a lack of professionalism — there are often many external reasons.

For many artists, the only way to survive and stay in the profession is through temporary, project-based collaborations: a few people come together to create something — a performance, for instance — and show it to as many people as possible, usually fellow compatriots.

Academics who haven’t secured a permanent or long-term position at a university or research institution (I'm not talking about those who’ve left academia altogether) also often rely on collaborations with scholars abroad. Together, they stage their own kind of “performance” — for example, by applying for a research grant. You search for colleagues who match your “type,” who share your vision for the project, and who are ready to devote time and energy to it for a while. Like artists, academics must also search for funding to bring their projects to life.

But this is probably where the similarities end.For actors, success is relatively measurable: how many people saw the play? How many were willing to buy tickets? Did it win any prizes at festivals? The outcome can be financially tangible.

In academia, it’s more complicated. It’s not at all clear whether — or how — one can “recoup” the investment in a research grant. On the one hand, obtaining the grant is itself a form of financial reward. On the other, the “end users” of your product are often other researchers — people just like you.

It’s as if a theater production were watched only by other actors and directors, and the main goal of the tour was for one of them to say, “Hey, that was great — maybe we’ll cast this actor in our next show.” I’m sure many performers do keep that idea in the back of their minds, but it’s clearly not the main point.

The problem for academics is that we don’t really have “end users” who are ready to pay here and now. Even in fields like tech or pharmaceuticals, where research can underpin startups, scientists don’t expect people to pay regularly to access their findings. Yes, readers of academic papers do pay — but not directly. Usually, institutions cover the subscription fees. And even then, the money goes to publishers, not the researchers.

Returning to the theater analogy: imagine if all ticket revenue went to the venue, not the actors or directors.

Of course, there are science communicators who give public lectures, write books or columns, and get paid by actual audiences. But first, they’re relatively rare. And second, anyone seriously doing public science likely can’t compete in academic research — there just isn’t enough time to do both. Science communication is, in many ways, a separate career.

Still, I believe that these “academic troupes” — temporary, project-based collaborations — are the most accessible way for scholars (especially those who’ve emigrated, but not only) to stay connected to academia. Which is why collaboration, participation in multiple projects, and building teams is everything.

That’s why I find it unfortunate that so few grant programs support these small-scale international research collaborations. It would be amazing if there were platforms where scholars could search for collaborators — something like a project-matching marketplace. A place where you could post a research idea or grant plan and browse others that might suit your interests. Not a job board, but a network for finding like-minded people.

Maybe something like this exists — but I haven’t come across it yet.

Of course, many will say that collaborations usually happen differently. If you're interested in a topic, you reach out to a fellow researcher, pitch your idea, or talk about it at a conference. That’s true. But I still think a structured platform would help — especially for people like me, who can’t afford to attend conferences as independent researchers.

Another thought that’s been on my mind after a couple of years of grant and job searching: Why are there still so few remote academic positions? Unlike the business world, academia still offers almost no remote jobs. You might be able to collaborate on a project from afar, but getting a postdoc — even in something like AI — still almost always requires moving to another country.

So yes — that’s the power of art: it gets you thinking. Sometimes far beyond the content of the play itself. 😊