London - Theater Studies

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Overview

Quick Facts

City:

London [1]

Country:

England [2]

Program credits:

15-19 per semester (5-6 courses)

Language(s) of Instruction:

English

Language prerequisites:

None

William Shakespeare said it best when he wrote “All the world’s a stage”—where better to study theater than the home of Shakespeare and so many other brilliant playwrights and performers?

Engage in Britain’s rich historical and contemporary theatrical tradition through Theater and Drama courses. In your core curriculum, you will analyze the artistic, financial, and professional structures that influence theater in Britain, with an emphasis on London. You will also examine key texts and performances within the relevant historical and cultural context and delve into theater criticism, reception theory, dramaturgy, and stage design.

London will also be your classroom. Imagine all the shows you’ll see—at least nine with IES Abroad alone—as you witness performances at small fringe theater venues and companies, as well as larger performances to learn first-hand about the London theater industry. Expand your artistry by taking a creative workshop in playwriting. Intern as a theater assistant at a local venue to get an inside look at the London theater scene. London and all it has to offer will be part of your learning experience—welcome to study abroad!

We want you to feel at home in London, so we will do everything we can to help you integrate into life in London, from internships to cultural activities. The Theater Studies Program integrates field study into most courses, focusing on the many opportunities for learning that London presents, such as routine theater visits and a backstage tour of the National Theatre.

Program Dates

These dates are preliminary and are subject to change. Students should not book flights according to these dates.

Academics

Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences.

We offer insightful courses that explore Theater and Drama, as well as other topics, through an in-depth and hands-on approach. Our professors and course options enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class.

All IES Abroad courses are taught by British and international faculty, and are designed to offer you a unique academic experience, combining the traditions of your home campus with the best of the British university system.

You take 15–19 credit hours per semester. Fall and spring courses (there is no academic year option) are 3 semester credits unless otherwise noted. Credits awarded for supplementary university courses or tutorials may vary.

You create your own academic experience by selecting from the following required and optional program components:

Required Courses (3 credits each)

DR355 Theater in London: Analyzing Text & Performance
TH355 The Theater Industry: Inside & Out

Elective Courses (Select three courses from the options below to earn an additional 9 credits)

TH390 Playwriting Workshop
LT351 Shakespeare the Dramatist
TH350 European Approaches to Text and Theater Performance
An elective course at a local partner university
Theater-related Internship (3 credits for the combined internship & tutorial)
IES Abroad Study London Program Course (maximum of one permitted per term)

IES Abroad Study London Program Course
Visit the Study London page to view Study London course listings. You can select one course from the Study London listings, based on your interests.

Courses

This is a list of planned course offerings. After you are accepted, you will see a list of final course offerings in your MyIESabroad account.

Partner Institution(s)

In addition to IES Abroad courses, we encourage you to participate in a course offered at one of three prestigious British universities. This is a great way to experience first-hand the British higher education system, meet British students, and study theater in a different context.

You may enroll in one supplemental course per semester for no additional fee. If you choose to enroll in more than one supplemental course, there is an extra fee.

Supplementary courses are available at the following institutions:

City University (fall & spring)
Queen Mary, University of London (fall only)
The School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (fall only)

City University (City)
www.city.ac.uk [3]
Supplementary Course Option: 4 credits

City received its charter in 1966, evolving from Northampton Polytechnic, a school which was founded nearly a century ago.

The following courses are available to IES Abroad students. For course descriptions, visit City University's Academic Programme site [4].

Actuarial Science
Business
Computer Science
Criminology
Economics
Engineering (majors only)
Finance
Foreign Language
Journalism (majors only)
Management
Mathematics
Media and Communications
Music (majors only)
Political science
Psychology
Sociology
Statistics

Queen Mary, University of London (QM)
www.qmul.ac.uk/ [5]
Supplementary Course Option: 4 credits (fall only)

QM is one of the largest colleges in the group of institutions that together make up the University of London.

QM offers numerous drama courses during the fall term only. Some possible options include: The Actor and the Body, Applied Theater, Beyond Acting, and Costume Drama: The Past Performed.

Visit www.qmul.ac.uk/modules [6] for more specific information on theater-related and other courses at QM.

The School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (SOAS)
www.soas.ac.uk [7]
Supplementary Course Option: 4 credits (fall only)

Recognized as a major world center of Asian, Middle Eastern, and African Studies, SOAS comprises more than 200 scholars, which is the largest group in the world dedicated to studying Asia and Africa.

While SOAS does not have a recognized Theater department, there are some courses that are theater-related, such as Japanese Literature and Drama in Art. Visit SOAS' study abroad site [8] for more specific information on theater-related and other courses.

Internships

While adding study abroad to your resume is impressive enough, adding an international internship experience is even more powerful, and can help distinguish your application for graduate school or a job opportunity in today’s competitive job market.

An internship provides an invaluable cultural experience, and helps you develop professional and personal skills. All IES Abroad internships are supervised and offered as academic options earning IES Abroad credit.

Past placement examples include being a Theater Assistant at Arcola Theater and a fundraising or administrative assistant at The Space (a multi-arts venue).

If you’re interested in participating in an internship for the semester, be aware that some internship options have earlier application deadlines. You must complete your program application first, and then you can apply for the internship. (You won’t have access to the internship forms until you’ve been admitted into the program.) You need to complete and submit all of your internship application materials by May 1 for Fall, and by October 1 for Spring.

Field Study

Course-Related Field Study
At least nine theater visits with live performances and tours are incorporated into the program as fundamental supplements to classroom learning. You share the cost of these visits with IES Abroad. Some study London electives include a tour of London’s East End, as well as architectural walking tours. Many courses integrate theater visits and tours into their curriculum.

Housing

Our job is to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding what landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave London, it will feel like home.

Nido King’s Cross Residence Hall – This international students’ residence hall is located in central London, and you and another IES Abroad student will share a double room and a bathroom (en suite). Amenities include:

Shared kitchens and laundry room
Hi-speed WiFi
Café, outdoor courtyard, games room, gym, and screening room
24-hour security
5-minute walk to King’s Cross station, where it is possible to catch trains on 6 different underground lines
25- to 30-minute walk to IES Abroad London Centre
Bed linens are provided

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Student Life

Part of making you feel at home in London is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it is an orientation program that makes you feel prepared, housing that is well-located and comfortable, or the field trips that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services. This is just one of the things we’re known for.

Orientation

The IES Abroad orientation program takes place in and around London, and is designed to orient you to the program, your fellow students, and to London.

Additionally, CORE™, IES Abroad’s Comprehensive Orientation & Re-entry Program, begins during orientation and continues through the semester with activities focusing on academic and cultural adjustment, goal achievement, and preparing for the return home. Detailed information about academics, housing, public transportation, cultural adjustment, health and safety, and other important topics will also be covered.

Other highlights may include walking tours of London neighborhoods, and a field trip to Greenwich or Windsor Castle.

You also learn about the teaching methods of British professors and the coursework of the Theater Studies Program, including internships, academic policies, and field trips. You receive academic advising and finalize your course registration during orientation.

Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events

Redefine the way you live and learn in London through our cultural events, such as:

Attending productions around London, including attendance at numerous theater productions and backstage tours
Touring of Parliament, royal palaces, and gardens
Attending local sporting events, such as the English Premier League
Outings to London’s diverse markets

Field Trips

Although your adventure begins in London, our field trips take you to other great cities in England to provide contrast and context for what you are learning in London. You share a portion of the cost with IES Abroad. IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities, and length of stay may vary according to term and availability.

Scotland
4 Days
Spend the night in Edinburgh, tour the highlands’ stunning scenery, dance at a traditional Scottish Ceilidh, and visit Loch Ness.

Stonehenge, Bath, and Salisbury
2 Days
Visit mysterious Stonehenge, the ancient Roman baths in Bath, and the Salisbury Cathedral, one of the finest examples of the early English Gothic architecture style in Britain.

Yorkshire
2 Days
Explore the north of England, including a night in the historic town of York. Other sites of interest include stunning national parks, the Bronte Parsonage, Castle Howard, and Fountains Abbey.

DAY TRIPS
Brighton
1 Day
Explore the historic maze of twisting alleyways and enjoy an optional visit to the royal pavilion, one of Europe’s most exotic royal palaces.

East Sussex
1 Day
Visit the country meeting place for the group of artists and intellectuals known as the Bloomsbury Group.

Oxford
1 Day
Visit historic Christ Church College and take a walking tour for a look at works by a famous group of 19th-century artists.

Cambridge
1 Day
See the beautiful university town of Cambridge, situated north of London. Explore the different colleges and visit the world famous King’s College.

Stratford and Kenilworth
1 Day
Visit Shakespeare’s house, place of birth, and place of his burial, Holy Trinity Church

Center

IES Abroad London [15]

The IES Abroad London Center, situated in the central London neighborhood of Bloomsbury, is a two-minute walk from the British Museum.

Features include:

18th century Georgian building
Classrooms
Library resources
Wireless Internet
Printing facilities
Outdoor patio
Staff offices
Student lounge

Center staff:

John Ockey
IES Abroad Director
John brings over 12 years of experience with IES Abroad, including seven years with IES Abroad Milan and nearly three years with IES Abroad Siena before coming to IES Abroad London. During his time in Siena, John developed and implemented a banner program with a strong focus on cultural immersion and academic rigor. In Milan, he played a key role in improving and developing the Milan program, notably in the areas of student housing, student activities, orientation, and supervision of the student services staff. Prior to working for IES Abroad, John received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Italian Literature and Art History from Brigham Young University and worked in Geneva for the United Nations.

IES Abroad Staff
Diane Atkinson
Academic Advisor

Vanessza Kaloczy
Student Affairs Coordinator

Elaine Staunton
Assistant Director

Alice Coltofeanu
Academic Programmes Manager

Martin Hannan
Accounts Administrator

Zosia Rutkowska
Senior Programme Coordinator

Beth Lehlbach
Internship Liaison Officer

Faculty
Diane Atkinson,
Cultural History
Doctor of Philosophy
Writer and Curator

Jennifer Bailey,
Theater Studies
Doctor of Philosophy
Head, Extramural Studies and Continuing Education, City University

Caroline Beery,
International Business
BA in History
Founding Partner, Coghill and Beery International, Lecturer and Consultant

Marina Caldarone,
Drama Studies
BA in English
Playwright and Producer

Julie Charalambides,
English Literature
Master of Arts
Writer and Editor, Blackstone Press Limited

Mary Condé,
Literature
Doctor of Philosophy
Lecturer, Queen Mary

Kate Domaille
Media Education
MA in Film & Media Studies in Education

Michael Drolet,
History and Political Science
Doctor of Philosophy
Lecturer, Royal Holloway College, University of London

Colin Ellwood
Director of the Theatre Directing Program at Rose Bruford College

Yolanda Eraso
History of Medicine
PhD in the History of Medicine

Lucinda Hawksley
Author, Curator, Spearker

Andrey Jichev,
Business and EU Issues
MBA
Management Consultant and Lecturer

Maria Jicheva
Management and International Business
MA and BA degrees from the University of Sofia, Bulgaria
MBA from The American International University in London
Intercultural Communication and Management Specialist

Rajiv Maluste
Economist
PhD, MPP, MBA

Andy Pankhurst,
Fine Arts
HDFA, Fine Arts
Slade School of Fine Art, University College London

Cinzia Pezzolesi
Pyschology
PhD

Dianna Pierce
Televiesion, News, Journalism, Politics, Public Relations
BA

Alan Powers
Art History
PhD

Julian Putkowski,
British Studies, History
BA, Senior Lecturer, Historian and Broadcaster
Kings College, University of London

Naomi Seekings
Art Education, Video Production

Alejandro Martin Sposato
Cross Cultural Organizational Behaviour
Lecturer
PhD Candidate

Sylvia Tijmstra
Human Geography, Political Science
PhD

Suzanne Waters
History of Art and Architecture
Teaches at Birkbeck College, University of London
Teaches Modern Art and Architecture at the University of Westminster
Heritage Consultant

Richard Weight
Cultural and Ethnic Studies
Doctor of Philosophy, Author and Historical Consultant
Lecturer, University of East London/Kings College London

Marianne Williamson
English Literature, Education

Cost