Penn Theatre in London--Penn English London Program

Catalog description

This course is the centerpiece of the Penn English London Program. As part of this course, you will study with a renowned theatre critic and make frequent theatre visits. London is one of the most exciting theatre centers in the world, and this course has a focus on live performance, providing an incomparable opportunity to learn about a wide range of dramatic forms, acting styles, theatrical conventions, and playing spaces. Students attend three performances each week, produced by companies such as the National Theatre, the Royal Court, and Shakespeare’s Globe. We will also see a diverse selection of pieces staged not only in the historic theatres of the West End, but also in smaller fringe theatres. Class meetings will include presentations on the theatres we visit, analysis of plays, and discussions about the productions we have seen. Readings for the class will include selected plays and contextual material to prepare us for theatre viewing; written work will consist of responses to performances. Field trips are likely to include a backstage tour of the National Theatre, and possibly a visit to the theatre collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum.