Day 1: London
At the airport, your private coach will meet you to transfer you to your hotel. Next, head to the program headquarters for an orientation session on health, safety, public transport, as well as helpful travel tips for your stay. Following orientation, a coach will be waiting to take you on a tour of London. Be sure to pack a camera; there will be plenty of photo ops. This evening, relax and rest up for the next day.
Day 2: London
Begin the day at the program headquarters where you will meet with one of UK’s best theatre critics. Sit in on an interactive lecture discussing productions you have already seen as well as those planned for this trip.
Take some free time for lunch, then meeting your Shakespearian London walking tour guide. Stroll through London’s South Bank neighborhood, and discover its rich history, date back to the Middle Ages.
Day 3: London
This morning, meet your guide, who is also a literary specialist, for a tour and introduction to the Bloomsbury neighborhood. You will cover some of the great literary figures to come from the area, include John Maynard Keynes, E.M. Forester, and Virginia Woolf. You will even have a chance to explore these writers’ homes, earning insight into their lives.
Following the tour, continue to the Victoria and Albert Museum. The museum was founded in 1920’s when a private collector of performing arts artifacts gifted her collection. Since then, the museum has continued to grow, adding new exhibits. Peruse the museum’s holdings independently.
Take some free time for dinner before tonight’s National Theatre production. The National Theatres is only one of two public funded theaters in the country.
Day 4: London
This morning, get a closer look at the life and legacy of William Shakespeare. Begin with a backstage tour of The Globe. The original Globe Theatre was destroyed by cannon fire during a Henry VII performance in 1613. In 1997, a replica was reconstructed in hopes of matching the original specifications as closely as possible. Explore the theatre with the help of one of the experienced guides.
After the tour, participate in a tailor-made workshop, designed to focus on the production you will see this evening. Better understand the themes and setting of the play prior to viewing. Then, this evening, you will have the chance to see a Globe Theatre production. As you stand in the open-air playhouse, imagine have this same experience may have been like in the 1600s. Don’t forget to wrap up for chilly evenings.
Day 5: London
Start the day with a walking your of theatrical London in the heart of Theatreland. Your guide will be sure to point out such sites as Shaftsbury Avenue and Drury Lane, home to several well-known London theaters. After your tour, you will head to program headquarters for a lecture with an actress and Director, both of who have worked with the great Olivier. Get an overview of the London stage in this interactive workshop.
Day 6: London
Though you’ve already seen a National Theatre production, today, see the theatre from behind the scenes. Because the National is a working theatre, their schedule is packed with rehearsals, prop building, set building, and costume design. With all the action, no two hours will be the same!
This afternoon, you will head to your private workshop with a West End professional at one of London’s theatres. Work on your craft with someone who is involved in the city’s top billings on an everyday basis. Afterwards, you will be able to watch the production on which your workshop focused.
Day 7: London - USA
Transfer via private coach to the airport for your return flight home.
