Theatre in London
The College of Advancing and Professional Studies, along with the Departments of Performing Arts and the Department of English at the University of Massachusetts Boston, is pleased to announce Theatre in London.
London is one of the most exciting and diverse cities in the world today. One of its undisputed chief attractions is its vibrant theatre scene, continuing a rich tradition of dramatic production dating back to the days even before such luminaries as the great Shakespeare. As Hamlet’s own inimitable character Polonius reminds us (Act II, scene ii), London’s stage can boast the "best actors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-comical-historical-pastoral, scene individable, or poem unlimited…"
Highlights
- Attend Shakespeare productions at the new Globe Theatre and visit Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon.
- Visit Westminster Abbey, where Kings and Queens of England have been crowned for almost a thousand years.
- Attend plays at London’s most famous theatres including the National Theatre, the Old Vic, and more.
- See the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.
- Walk the streets and visit the pubs frequented by Charles Dickens.
- Visit the Tower of London where kings lived and the royal jewels are on display.
About the Program
This summer the Performing Arts Department of the University of Massachusetts Boston will offer students the opportunity to study intensively English theatre and then travel to the great city of London, international center for theatre and the arts, to experience first-hand original dramatic productions.
Coursework of "Theatre in London" will begin with a thorough investigation into the evolution of the English stage by examining the major dramatic genres and styles that have appeared on London stages from the Middle Ages to present day in works that have enthralled theatre-loving audiences for centuries. Students will become familiar with the plays of Shakespeare and the centrality of his work in the English theatrical tradition, and learn about the original Globe theatre for which he wrote his major plays and on whose stage he acted. After a month of academic study on the campus of UMass Boston, students will travel to London, England for a ten-day immersion experience in the London theatre scene, attending plays at some of the most significant theatres in the world, including the New Globe theatre, a nearly identical reconstruction of the original Globe. Students will also go to the Royal Court Theatre, home to many of the most exciting new plays and playwrights of the last fifty years including John Osborne, Edward Bond, Caryl Churchill, and Sarah Kane.
The theatre experience in London will be intense: students can expect to attend no fewer than 10 productions during their stay. However, in addition to this serious exploration of theatre, ample time will be allocated for students to explore and appreciate London’s other offerings, including visits to some of the city’s most famous museums and cultural centers.
Program Agenda
| May 31 - June 25 | Students attend classes (Tu/Th) at the UMass Boston campus, including a required pre-travel orientation session. |
| June 27 | Students leave Boston on a redeye flight and travel to London, England, arriving on Friday, June 28. |
| June 28 - July 8 | Students reside in the University College dorms and attend theatrical productions and cultural sites. Travel by bus and tube. |
| July 8 | Students return to Boston campus (in time to attend UMass Boston summer session II) |
Courses and Credit
All participants register for one of the following two courses (included in the program fee):
- THRART 329 Theatre in London (fulfills dramatic literature requirement for theatre major).
- English 461, Advanced Studies in Drama, 3 credits.
Students who wish to extend and deepen their academic experience may also register and earn 3 additional credits (for a fee of TBA) in THRART 479 Independent Study (which fulfills upper division course requirement for theatre major).
Graduate level credit in English is possible by special arrangement. Applicants interested in graduate credit (from UMass Boston) must obtain permission from Eve Sorum, Graduate Program Director before registering in the program.
Faculty
Robert Lublin is Chair of the Department of Performing Arts. He specializes in theatre history and has published widely on English theatre. His book, Costuming the Shakespearean Stage, provides a cultural history of the costumes worn on the Shakespearean stage. He is also the coeditor of the forthcoming book Reinventing the Renaissance: Shakespeare and His Contemporaries in Adaptation and Performance.
Louise Penner is Associate Professor of English at UMass Boston where she teaches courses in Victorian Literature and Medical Humanities. Her scholarship focuses on the intersections of literary, medical, and scientific cultures in Victorian England. Her recent book is titled Victorian Medicine and Social Reform: Florence Nightingale among the Novelists (Palgrave 2010).
Disclaimer
Please be advised that international programs are subject to change, slight or major, at any time due to circumstances beyond our control; this includes any and all fees, dates, itinerary, and program activities. We will do our best to inform all applicants of any changes in as timely a manner as possible.
