‘Arts and Performance in London’ Category


From the students in T/D 199: Arts & Performance in London, a j-term course in London.


The Magic of Performance

Standing on her bed, belting a song about fighting for fairness, holding the audience rapt with her clear voice and bubbling character, Adrianna Bertola proved beyond a doubt that, playing Matilda, she could fill a giant stage with her three-foot-tall presence. Before the first time she stepped out to sing alone, the audience had already […]

La Bohéme Refurbished

As we continute to study in London, many of my fellow students noted that London has a very clever way of blending the old and new together and refurbishing history or classics. I’ve been much more keen to this thought as I continue to enjoy the time I have left in England. The “theatres” we’ve […]

Twisted and Delightful

In America, it’s pretty difficult to find someone who does not know the name Willy Wonka.  Whether you were introduced to him by Gene Wilder, Johnny Depp, or (hopefully) Roald Dahl, people know him.  Roald Dahl’s Twisted Tales has a voice that is definitely related to Wonka; our group went to see the aforementioned show […]

A Flea in Her Ear: A Smile on Our Faces

“Performing farce demands a split-second precision that makes every other form of drama seem like a piece of cake.”—John Morrison, author of Feydeau and the Art of Farce Georges Feydeau’s A Flea in Her Ear was certainly a farcical show. Our group saw this show on Wednesday, January 12 at The Old Vic in Southbank. […]

Reviving the Enlightenment in London: A Conversation with Damian Barr

There is a relic of literary history that many have thought dead since the days of the French Revolution. However, with the help of Scottish writer and journalist Damian Barr, the literary salon has been resurrected as a haven for literati, intellectuals, industry professionals and really anyone with a passion for books. Our class had […]

Experiencing Resolution! 2011 in London

Resolution! is a contemporary dance festival that takes place every year in London.  It takes place between January and February. Everyday there are three performances and different dance companies have the opportunity to show their recent work.  It includes over a hundred contemporary pieces that choreographers and dancers have created for this years show.  I […]

Making the Most of It, English Style.

When you think about England, several things spring to mind: tea, the Beatles, David Beckham, the Queen.  History comes to mind, traditions, innovations; all these are part of what England is and what England will be.  On our tour of the National Portrait Gallery, our tour guide Leslie neatly encapsulated an interesting aspect of English […]

The Echoes of War

Stepping into the performance space, the audience’s senses are assaulted. Bagpipe music screams through the sound system and computer-programmed lights swoop through the air as if trying to find an audience member in a game show. The air is foggy, and a kind of stadium has been created by dividing the seats into two sets […]

Seeds of Identity

The Tate Modern is the national gallery of international modern art located in the heart of London’s South Bank.  Created in 2000 from an abandoned power station, his museum is one of four Tate museums. The collection in the Tate Modern comprised of art from the year 1900 and beyond.  The museum is home to […]

The Saatchi at Second Glance: Where do your exes live?

by Mary Virginia Cooley On Friday, January 7th of our first week in London, our sufficiently dampened class made its way along the Underground to a stop at Sloane Square in Chelsea. Near the square were the Royal Court Theatre and the St. Thomas Moore Language College. The area also included some retail locations, from […]