Anneli Saro is Professor of Theatre Research and Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at the University of Tartu (Estonia). In 2010-2014, she was working as a Lecturer of Estonian Culture at the University of Helsinki (Finland). Saro has been a convener of the International Working Groups Project on European Theatre Systems (2004-2008) and Theatrical Event (2011-2017). She has been active as the Editor-in-Chief of Nordic Theatre Studies (2013-2015) and as a member of the executive committee of the International Federation for Theatre Research (2007-2015).

Saro has published articles on Estonian theatre history and system, performance theory and audience research. She has edited several books, amongst others Global Changes – Local Stages. How Theatre Functions in Smaller European Countries (2009, with Hans van Maanen and Andreas Kotte) and Eesti teatriteaduse perspektiivid (2013). Her new book 101 Eesti teatrisündmust (101 Estonian Theatrical Events) was published in 2017