London Plays 2017
We’re starting to learn about next summer’s shows, but not a lot is available as yet. We’ll post here more information as it becomes available.
Not everyone loves a musical, as hard as that is to believe, but we defy you to give the London theatre a chance and not come away liking plays/the theatre a little more than you did before. We have seen some amazing actors and some amazing shows over the last two decades in London, and each summer surprises us with another gem. Sometimes, we have to go searching in the smallest theatres around town for them; other times, the great show is playing on one of London’s most famed stages. This year is already shaping up to have a little something for everyone!
Featured Plays 2017
These plays are part of the London 2017 program and have been paid for already in your program fees. We know two of the majors shows at the Globe and the National Theatre, but the other two are as yet to be determined.
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
We can’t go all the way to London and not see something at the Globe, right? The 2017 season has just been announced and it should be a wonderful summer of comedy and tragedy in equal measure. As a group, we will most likely see Much Ado about Nothing, a witty and engaging play that positions two of theatre’s most antagonistic lovers against each other: Beatrice and Benedick. He’s just back from a war; she’s unimpressed. Both feign disinterest and, at times, revulsion, but what their public sparring hides is that these were two personalities destined for each other. Under the artful direction Matthew Dunster, this show is sure to engage us all. Other Globe options while we’re there include Emma Rice’s production of Twelfth Night and a non-Shakespeare option, Tristan and Yseult … with this sort of line-up, it’s no surprise that Artistic Director Emma Rice has named this the “Summer of Love.”
National Theatre
The National Theatre, which consists of four different stages/individual theatres, is always a good bet for excellent theatre. Recent shows that have taken New York by storm (War Horse; One Man, Two Governors) got their starts at the National, as did the recent multi-award-winning The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. The National does amazing work! This summer involves the revival of a class of contemporary American theatre, Angels in America. If we can get tickets, we will most likely see Angels; it will be in the Littleton theatre and will start Nathan Lane, James McArdle, Andrew Garfield, and Russell Tovey, and it will be directed by the world-class and supremely talented Marianne Elliott – literally, every show she touches turns to gold!
Also at the National next summer will be a new play by Nina Raine, Consent. It promises to be a good, if possibly uncomfortable, show about rape and justice.
Optional Plays to Consider in 2017
It’s much too soon for any of the smaller theaters to have released their offerings, but I’ll pop some up here as we get closer so that you have some ideas of the rich diversity of what’s available at some of the major playhouses.
In the mean time, know that London theatre is much much cheaper than New York theatre and you get the same quality or better.
Day Trips 2018
Each year, we put together a host of short day trips that get us out of the city and allow us to see another view of England. The city is wonderful, full of brilliant shows, fascinating people, and interesting things to do, but as the British aristocracy has always known, the country provides its own pleasures.
Featured Excursions in 21018
The following excursions are built into the program and parts of these trips are paid for in advance through your program fee. If there are any extra charges associated with the trip, those are noted, as well.
Oxford or Cambridge? (Travel = Pre-Paid; Tour = £10-15)
Each year, we take a day-trip to either Oxford or Cambridge so that you can get a sense of what that style of college/university life is like. It’s different enough from US higher education that it’s worth seeing, and there are building in both places that are older than the United States as a nation. Our tour guides have always been wonderful, somewhat perfectly “British” and fitting every stereotype you’re looking for. At Oxford, we see lots of sites, like the courtyard at New College where “Mad Eye” Moody turns Draco Malfoy into a ferret in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. There are lots of other Harry-Potter-related sites in Oxford, as well, that you could do as part of your own walking tour. (PDF) Cambridge offers equally beautiful sites as Oxford, as well as some beautiful first editions of A. A. Milne’s Pooh books, and artifacts related to the discovery of DNA, as well as places you’ll have seen in the recent film about Stephen Hawking, A Theory of Everything. In both towns, you have the chance to go “punting” — you shouldn’t miss it. Grab a bottle of wine (or two) and put a group together for a punt. There’s nothing quite like a relaxing summer boat ride around Oxford or Cambridge to relax you and also to make you feel a bit like Rat from The Wind in the Willows!
Kew Garden (Course Trip: Pre-Paid)
One of our favorite early “outings” each year is to hop on a Thames River Boat Tour and head out to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. After four or five days in central London, it’s fun to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and see one of the most interesting botanic gardens in the world. Kew really came of age in the 19th century as English explorers traveled the globe and brought back rare plant specimens to London for study and cultivation. Kew Gardens produced the first tropical fruits in England, which became extremely important for sailors who often succumbed to scurvy while traveling. The vitamins in citrus fruit help keep the sailors healthy. But Kew also has Queen Charlotte’s summer palace, and the Treetop Walkway: take a few minutes to climb the stairs and look out over the London suburban countryside from the sky! And whatever you do, make sure you try the orange juice at the Orangery: fresh squeezed each day, it is the best OJ we’ve ever tasted … seriously!
After we’ve had our fun in the garden, we’ll head to the Original Maids of Honour Tea Shoppe for an afternoon “cream tea.” You’ll definitely want to try their eponymous confection, the “original Maids of Honour” pastry, but if you’ve never had afternoon “cream tea,” complete with rejuvenating hot tea and a scone that’s been slathered in delicious clotted cream and jam, well, you’ve been letting the best in life pass you by! You’ll want more tea-and-scone afternoons after this one, and let’s face it: after all the miles we’ve walked in London and in Kew, the calories won’t matter.
Additional Excursions in 2018
Stratford-Upon-Avon & the Shakespeare Institute (Optional Extra Trip: £30)
This year, because we have a former student, Karen Harker (London 2012), studying at the Shakespeare Institute, we have the opportunity to take a quick train out to Stratford-Upon-Avon, birthplace to the Bard. While there, we’ll have an expert on the area (and Shakespeare — Karen’s finishing a master’s on playwright!) who has offered to give us a tour around town. She also thinks she can introduce us to some of the actors working at the local theatres. Imagine it: a day trip to the country complete with free tours, a great play, and a chance to go behind the scenes! How can we pass up an opportunity like that? Come join us at Marylebone station, and we’ll take the train up together!
Did You Say Harry Potter? (Optional Extra Trip: £50-75 depending on tour options)
Caught that did you? The fact that there’s Harry Potter sites to see in Oxford? Well, what about the Warner Bros. Studio in Watford Junction, which has an amazing tour of Harry Potter sets, props, costumes, and all the Butter Bear you could ever ask for?! That’s right: you can sate every one of your HP desires by taking one of the tours. We went two years ago and had way more fun than we thought we would, and then last year, the tours had gotten so popular that they were sold out for all of July by the time we got there. If you want to do the Harry Potter Studio Tour, you’ll want to book early. We can help you do that and get a group together. It’s way more fun with friends!
But That’s Just the Beginning …
While we’ll do some of these things together as a large group, there are so many other wonderful day or afternoon excursions you’ll want to enjoy. It’s a simple trip to grab the train at Paddington and hop over to Windsor for an afternoon to tour Windsor Castle and see the town. Or if it’s Henry VIII you’re interested in, go to Hampton Court Palace. The tour of the palace is wonderful, but you can actually the hedge-row maze for free! If Stonehenge and Bath are more your speed, then there are very inexpensive coach (bus) tours that pick you up in Central London and spirit you around to cool places, all in a day. Students over the years have really enjoying putting together afternoon or all-day-Saturday trips to Stonehenge-Bath-and-Oxford.
If you’re interested in “the Continent,” then now’s a great chance to go. From London’s 4 airports, it’s easy to grab a cheap ticket on RyanAir or ValueJet to Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, or really anywhere in central Europe. Put a group of 3 or 4 together and get a room for the weekend. Since we don’t have classes on the weekends, you can escape on Friday afternoon and stay until late Sunday. You’ve got your passport, you’ve got friends, why not see more of Europe, Ireland, or Scotland?? Now’s the chance!
London 2017?
Students from East Carolina University will soon wing their way to London, England, for 3 weeks of studying the literature, art, design, culture, and folklore of one of the most vibrant, culturally-rich cities/countries in the world. If you’re interested in traveling to London, seeing the sights, and earning 6 undergraduate or graduate credits, you do not want to miss this opportunity.
Interested students enroll in two courses offered during the 2016 Summer Session 2. In addition to coursework, students will spend time exploring the bustling streets and picturesque parks of London proper, and may choose to spend weekends in nearby Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, or elsewhere in Europe.
Dates: July 1 – July 23, 2017
Cost: $3,300 + airfare (includes travel to and from the airport in London, 3-4 shows at the Globe, the National, and West-End theatres, a 3-week travel card for the Tube and the bus, and a trip to Oxford or Cambridge)
Accommodations: Student apartments in Central London, convenient to subway stops, parks, shopping, and international cuisine
Professors: Will Banks, Brent Henze, Andrea Kitta, & Rick Taylor
Additional Information
Our annual trip to London is an exciting experience for all involved. Dr. Taylor has been making the trip with students almost every summer for the last 25 years, and is a tremendous asset to this trip. If you have questions about London, he’s the person to talk to!
Early on, as you make a commitment to the trip, you will sign up for two classes and pay your deposit to ECU Continuing Studies: Summer Study Abroad. You can find more information on our trip at PiratesAbroad. These classes move very quickly in London, as we’re there only three weeks. Each summer, we work hard to keep the time we spend “in class” in our flats down so that you can have time to explore the city.
A Word about Costs
The cost of the London trip is one of the lowest of the ECU Study Abroad programs. The faculty work hard to keep the cost low so that it’s affordable to students. The base price ($3,300) covers 6 undergraduate or graduate credits (2 classes), transportation to and from the airport, 3-4 theatre trips, travel around the city on the Underground and/or buses, and the cost of housing for the three weeks in London. Airfare is a separate cost. In previous years, we’ve booked our flights in late February / early March and found prices between $1,100 – $1,500. You will be contacted when we have found the right flight for our trip and you’ll be encouraged to book your own flight on the common airplane. You may fly separately from the group, of course, but you may want to make arrangements to meet us at the airport, as we have booked a coach (tour bus) to take us and our luggage to the flats — trust us, this is much easier than trying to do it with the train/Tube!
Undoubtedly, London is an expensive city, as are most large cities around the world, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself while there and not spend too much money. Because we have flats (apartments) with kitchens, you can easily live on cereal, Raman noodles, and PB&J sandwiches, and still enjoy some meals out and around London. You’ll find some of the very best Thai, Indian/Bangladeshi, Chinese, and Lebanese food in the world scattered around London, as well as some great fish and chips, sticky-toffee pudding, and farm-to-fork pubs with great British food. Some of the best you’ll find will be in the two pubs near our flats!
A Word about Accommodations
We have a great relationship with Anglo American Educational Services in London, and they provide us with excellent accommodations each year. In previous years, we have stayed at the Landward Apartments, located in the Marylebone area of London off Edgeware Rd, and the Hawley Apartments in Camden. These two locations give you a sense of where we stay, what the apartments look like, and what you can expect from the surrounding area.
The apartments are not luxurious, but they are sufficient for three weeks abroad. You can expect to have a flat with two or three bedrooms, and each bedroom will hold two or three students in single beds. Each flat also has a common area (dining room/living room combo) and a kitchen, which includes a washer/dryer combo. Most flats also have two bathrooms.
Lodging 2017
We have received word that our lodging for London in summer 2017 will be at the Landward Apartments in central London. This wonderful set of flats is located between Hyde Park and Regent’s Park just off Edgware Road. There’s a convenient Waitress around the corner for easy grocery shopping, a couple of coffee shops, and at least four or five really good local pubs (one is Thai, the others serve more traditional faire). We’re also located near 3 major Underground/Tube station: Paddington, Edgware Rd, and Marble Arch. We have stayed in this location many times and have always enjoyed how close it is to everything. You can use the following address to find our flats on GPS or Google Maps:
Landward Apartments
Harrowby Street
London
W1H 5HB
