Above is The Globe and The Tate Modern Museum. On Friday, September 20th we went to a matinee of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Globe Theatre. We arrived at 12:30 for a 2 pm performance so we could be first in line to stand in the pit! The reason we want to be first is so we can rush the stage we they open the doors so we have something to lean on during the performance. It is worth the wait. The play was absolutely fantastic. To date it is the favorite play the students have seen. The Globe was the idea of an American actor named Sam Wanamaker who unfortunately died before the theatre was finished being built. For many years Mark Rylance, one of my favorite actors, was the artistic director and acted in many productions there. Last year he was in Richard III and played Olivia in 12th Night. Both those shows are transferring to NYC rumor has it.
Here we are waiting in line to get in.
This side gate where "the groundlings" (us) enter has all the animals that are mentioned in Shakespeare's plays on it.
Here is the stage inside. No stage lighting even at night.
The stage ceiling.
A little thug with mullet and all in the audience!
During interval (intermission) we can sit on the ground and rest and eat and drink after standing for the first act.
Here is the whole group in front of the Globe stage! Loved the performance!
Oberon and Puck unlike you have ever seen them!!!! Hysterical!
Some of the students met Oberon and Titania after the performance!
St. Paul's Cathedral is across the Thames River from the Globe and Tate Modern Museum. After the show we walked along the South Bank to the National Theatre where we had a performance of Riot at the Shed. The play was written and directed by Tom Brennan, a former student of mine at Rose Bruford. He is in his third year there and The Wardrobe Theatre Company from Bristol created the production which I saw two year's ago at the Soho Theatre. They were chosen to perform at the Shed which is a temporary theatre built outside the National Theatre while the Cottesloe is being redone.
A street musician outside the Tate Modern
St. Paul's and the Millennium Bridge (as seen in Harry Potter getting blown up!)
A Malaysian Cultural Festival was going on on the South Bank. Lots of Malaysian Food, Crafts, and Cultural entertainment.
The Shed. Fun place to watch a play! Too bad it is temporary.
Over the past few weeks we have seen some incredible shows for class. At the Landor Pub we saw a great production of Title of Show, The Royal Haymarket Theatre is where we saw One Man, Two Guvnors. The lead was the same one we saw last year. He had left the show and returned the week we saw it. Still very funny!
At the Donmar, the Page to Stage Class saw The Same Deep Water as Me which was just ok, actually. It was good for the students to see this space.
Chimerica was another fantastic play that we read and got to see. Won a lot of awards last year and transferred to the West End in August. Such an interesting story!
Prior to going to the Donmar for the play some of us went to Chinatown and ate Chinese food.
An evil Chinese pigeon (before)
An evil Chinese pigeon (after)! Maybe we are winning the battle!
Wong Kei, one of my favorite Chinese Restaurants! Food is cheap!
Wonton Soup!
Shelby and Sadie enjoying their soup!
Elizabeth chowing down a huge plate of noodles and a huge plate of special fried rice. All by herself!
Keara and Colleen. Two masters at using chopsticks!
Tim slurping!
Molly being Molly. What else can I say! Next blog: Art Galleries and Blenheim Palace!
THAT'S ALL FOLKS!!!!
2 comments:
Love the pictures and the commentary, Gar...looks like you're all doing well and that the students are enjoying everything. But then, there's nothing quite like the UK. Greetings to all and thanks for the great posts and the memories of our time there together. Get to Cornwall, darling.
Thank you so much for taking the time to put together this blog. The pictures and text are interesting and informative. I only hear wonderful things about this adventure from Hannah! I know she is enjoying every aspect of her time in London. I loved the picture of the gate at the Globe. the students are so fortunate to have such an enthusiastic and well trained instructor.
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