The month-long Summer In London Theatre Program consists of Theatre classes, workshops, talks, tours and attendance at shows in London and beyond such as in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Brighton, the Chichester Theatre Festival and other cultural/theatrical venues. It is an intensive immersion into the professional British Theatre world. Students work closely with established British Theatre artists throughout four weeks in order to learn new skills and techniques; expand their knowledge of particular theatrical styles and genres; and establish on-going connections with Theatre professionals for future mentoring and networking.
The Summer In London Theatre Program has been offered since 1999 – originally on an annual basis, then bi-annually, and now on a 4 year rotation to allow for other outstanding Theatre study tour experiences. It was developed and led by Professor Ellen Faith Brodie, Director of Theatre, in order to place students in an environment in which “learning through practice” could become a daily reality at the highest level of expectations and experiences.
The Summer In London Theatre program is planned to meet the needs of the BA in Theatre and is a program primarily for Theatre majors and minors. Theatre majors may choose this program as a capstone requirement for the Theatre major that includes research and experiential projects that lead to paper presentations and performances.
Students in the most recent London 2014 Theatre program, in addition to attending 12 shows as part of the curriculum in London (on the West End, at Shakespeare’s Globe, at the National Theatre, and in Regents Park) including opera (at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden) and film (at the Royal Albert Hall with live orchestration by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra), participated in workshops led by British professionals related to acting onstage and on-camera; interpreting and performing Shakespeare; Theatre du Complicite/le coq physical theatre performance; approaches to comedy; and singing in musical theatre at professional venues such as LAMDA and Drama Centre as well as at the host university, Queen Mary, University of London. Cultural sites visited included museums such as the British Museum, the British Library, the National Gallery, the V & A, the Tate Modern; palaces such as Hampton Court and the Royal Pavilion; day trips included visits to Stonehenge, Bathe, Chichester, Brighton, and, of course, Shakespeare’s birthplace and the RSC in Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Please stay tuned for more information regarding the next London Theatre Program!
THE 476: Theatre on Tour, 3 credits