The Mission: Follow in the tradition of Oxford playwrights John Galsworthy and Oscar Wilde; actresses Vivian Leigh, Dame Peggy Ashcroft, and Kate Beckinsdale; and actors Richard Burton, Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean), and Hugh Grant. The Theatre in Britain program is a fun and comprehensive study of the thespian arts, all centered on the creation of a ready-to-tour show involving the whole group. During the first two weeks of the program, students live in Oxford and work as a team to write and produce an original production which they then perform at the world renowned Edinburgh Fringe Theatre Festival. Participants learn the fundamentals of acting, playwriting, stagecraft, the history of theatre, and publicity, on their way to a true Renaissance knowledge of the theatre world.

Oxford - Preparation: Oxford University’s ongoing tradition of excellence in student theatre, its storied history, and convenient location (close to both London and Stratford-upon-Avon), make it the ideal setting for the program. While in Oxford, the group stays at St. Hilda’s College on the banks of the Cherwell River, set on the edge of Trinity Meadow. The group’s leaders provide expert, seminar-style instruction in the formal, technical, and artistic aspects of theatre, to complement classes and workshops with guest lecturers, field trips, and, of course, nights at the playhouse. These diverse aspects of theatre are woven together and find practical application in the group performance which the students begin working on shortly after arrival. The production of an original play for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the driving objective of the entire program. After getting to know each other and deciding on a theme to develop, the group leaps right into daily rehearsals. At first, these take place in the morning with seminars in the afternoon, but soon the production kicks into high gear with both morning and afternoon rehearsals. While based at Oxford, students take a day trip to Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, and an overnight weekend trip to London, where they see Shakespeare performed at the reconstructed Globe Theatre, and attend cutting edge modern dramas at venues across the city. As the production starts to take shape, students enjoy a farewell dinner and show in Oxford and then board a train for Scotland.

Edinburgh - The Payoff: The group hits the ground running in one of the most elegant, inspiring, and bustling European cities. Arriving nine days before the Festival begins gives them time to survey their performance venue, polish their performance, and develop and implement a publicity strategy. The pamphleteering must be lived to be believed! They also explore amidst the spires of Edinburgh’s medieval Old Town, visit the towering Castle, and share their enthusiasm with fellow theatre lovers, thousands of whom make the trip to Edinburgh an annual pilgrimage. As in Oxford, the group stays in university accommodations located near the center of the city, and within walking distance of a number of theatre venues. Finally, the house lights go down, and the curtain goes up. The moment is electrifying, but what is seen on stage is just the most visible portion of a much broader experience. In addition to the audience’s enthusiastic applause, participants find that they come away from the summer with knowledge, confidence, and friendships that will last a lifetime.