Kim Hunter-Gordon

Kim Hunter Gordon is a practitioner of classical Kunqu singing and scholar of Chinese theatre history. He is interested in how Chinese song-drama has been shaped by social networks, publishing practices, patronage, and bureaucratic funding mechanisms, and what these processes reveal about how societies structure and regulate culture. His monograph, Kunqu: China’s Classical Song-Drama, (2026) is published by Bloomsbury Methuen Drama.

His teaching interests at DKU include China studies, media, performance studies, and translation. His perspectives on Global China education are informed by years of professional experience both as a Western journalist and media professional in China and as an international liaison and translator for Chinese cultural institutions. He maintains long-standing collaborations with performance and heritage organizations in Kunshan, alongside networks across Jiangsu, Shanghai, Fujian, and beyond.

He holds an MA (Hons) in Psychology and English Literature from the University of Glasgow and a PhD in Theatre Studies from Royal Holloway, University of London, which he undertook alongside a China Studies Joint Research Fellowship at Nanjing University. His fieldwork included extended training under Qian Zhenrong at the Jiangsu Kunqu Theatre. Prior to joining DKU he held an AHRC-funded research fellowship at the Shanghai Theatre Academy.

Kim Hunter Gordon 郭冉，是中国古典昆曲演唱实践者及戏剧史学者。他专注于研究中国戏曲如何在社会网络、出版实践、赞助体系与官僚资金机制的共同作用下形成发展，并透过这些过程揭示社会建构与规制文化的方式。其专著《昆曲：中国的古典戏曲》（2026年）由布卢姆斯伯里出版社梅休因戏剧学术系列出版。

在昆山杜克大学，他的教学方向涵盖中国研究、媒介研究、表演研究及翻译领域。多年在中国担任西方记者与媒体人的职业经历，以及为中国文化机构开展国际联络与翻译工作的经验，共同塑造了他对于”全球中国”教育的独特视角。他与昆山的表演艺术及文化遗产机构保持长期合作，并在江苏、上海、福建等地建立了广泛的协作网络。

他拥有格拉斯哥大学心理学与英国文学硕士（荣誉学位），并在伦敦大学皇家霍洛威学院获得戏剧研究博士学位，攻读期间同时受聘为南京大学中国研究联合研究员。其田野调查包括在江苏省昆剧院跟随钱振荣老师进行长期专业训练。在加入昆山杜克大学前，他曾获得英国艺术与人文研究委员会资助，在上海戏剧学院担任研究员。