Theater in London
January 2009
Interdisciplinary 258

Instructor: Diana Postlethwaite, Professor of English
Major Credit: Theater, English or Fine Arts Major
Distribution Credit: Artistic Studies (ALS-A)

This interdisciplinary course is designed for students who wish to gain appreciation of theater as an artistic and literary form, contextualized within the rich cultural and historical resources of a great international city. The vitality, quality and diversity of the English stage--from traditional productions of classic dramatic masterpieces by the National Theater or the Royal Shakespeare Company, to more experimental “Fringe” theaters off the beaten track--will be our primary resource for the month.

During the 4-week interim term, our group will attend approximately 20 performances in the evenings and afternoons. Where possible, we'll read texts of the plays and learn something about playwrights, directors and actors in advance. Each morning, we'll meet to discuss the plays, both as dramatic literature and as theater productions, responding to the play we've seen the previous day and priming ourselves for the next production on our schedule. Students will take a major role in preparing and leading these daily review/preview discussions. We'll consider the plays on our “syllabus” not only in terms of character and plot, but also in light of aesthetics, production values, and theater history. We'll tour backstage at the National and Globe Shakespeare Theaters, and attend lectures by Londoners associated with British theater. There will also be time built into our schedule for students to see one or more plays of their own choosing.

Although the term's primary emphasis is “Theater,” we won't overlook the “London” part of the course. As a group, and on our own, we'll visit some of the famous cultural/historical sites of this great city, such as the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the British Museum, St. Paul's Cathedral, the National Gallery, the Tate Modern and Tate British Galleries, and also sample some of the multi-cultural flavors of twenty-first century London.

Although the majority of our time will be spent in London, we'll take a three-day excursion to Stratford-upon-Avon (Shakespeare's birthplace), where we'll attend performances of the Royal Shakespeare Company. There will be day-trip excursions outside of London to Oxford, Canterbury, Stonehenge, and Bath. Students will have a two-and-a-half-day free period for their own travel or personal plans during the latter part of the term.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

• Reading of some plays, and other materials on theater
• Attendance and participation at all scheduled plays, tours and classes.
• Oral contributions to class sessions, including 1) presenting an introduction to one play and 2) leading a discussion of one play the day following a performance
• A journal, to be kept throughout the term, containing responses to all productions, other cultural experiences in London, and day trips (this will be graded twice, one in the middle and once at the end of the term
• Two more formal writing assignments: 1) a play review and 2) a reflective essay on some aspect of your London theatre experiences
• Final exam, TBA

LOGISTICAL INFORMATION

Dates: The interim will tentatively run from January 5 through January 31, 2009 (note difference from St. Olaf's on-campus interim dates)
Housing: For the first two weeks, we'll stay in the dormitory of Regent's College, centrally located in Regent's Park (near the Baker Street Underground/subway station). In Stratford, we'll stay at bed & breakfast inns, and return to a central London hotel for the final week of the term.
Cost: The cost for the 2009 Theater in London interim will be $4,975.
This includes: international airfare; housing and two meals per day in London and Stratford; theater tickets; admissions to museums, galleries, tours; group travel arrangements; group expenses; a per diem allowance for some meals not included with the accommodations.