A Semester in London: CANTERBURY AND REHEARSALS

Two weeks ago we took a day trip to Canterbury, one of my all time favorite places. I first went there in 1972 and then again in 1974 and every year we have been doing the London Study Abroad Program. I can't get enough of it. It is magical. It is a city that was the center of many pilgrimages to the Cathedral where the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas a Becket was assassinated by four of King Henry II's knights. Thomas was Henry's best friend and Henry appointed him Archbishop. When their ideas clashed, Henry stated that he wished he was rid of him. These four knights overheard him and proceeded to murder Becket. The site became a place for Holy pilgrimages. Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is one of these journeys where the pilgrims told stories to pass the time on the journey. T. S Eliot wrote a play, Murder in the Cathedral and there is also a play and movie entitled Becket. The film stars Richard Burton as Becket and Peter O'Toole as the young King Henry II. Later O'Toole got to play Henry II in the latter part of his life in the film, The Lion in Winter. This is an excellent film and play. Our day began with a tour of the City and around the outside of the Cathedral.

This is my favorite house in Canterbury. Amazed that it is still standing.

This is the gate that leads into the grounds of the Cathedral.

Notice the Tudor symbol of the Rose and other symbols we saw in Cambridge.

Courtney speaking with the tour guide.

The tour began in Butter Market outside the Gate to the Cathedral.

Notice how the first and second floor overhang the floor below. The smallest square footage in the ground floor. It gets bigger as you go up. This is typical of many of the buildings in Canterbury, and it is because you were taxed on the square footage of the ground floor, so taxes were cheaper.

The Weavers which is a restaurant has boat rides.

At the end of the building is a chair that they used to put people in, mostly women, and dunk them in the water as a punishment. See close up of chair below.

I then paid to get all of us into the Cathedral for a self guided tour.

Of course Diana and Andrew our two lighting designers were more interested in the lights that illuminate the outside of the Cathedral at night!

Inside the Cathedral.

A pulpit!

This photo is taken looking up from the steps we are sitting on in the first picture of this blog. The white cross in the center is actually a door where things can be lowered down using a winch.

This is the Shrine to Thomas a Becket. The original one was destroyed. The Crypt is next to this but was closed the day we went for an event.

The Cloisters.

The entire ceiling of the cloister is covered with coats of arms.

The Chapter House with its great ceiling.

Courtney after she was caught singing in this space!

More interior photos.

A Fresco that was discovered.

Students from the King's School after classes.

The original Shrine to Thomas was here where the candle is lit.

Stained glass window of Thomas a Becket.

I just loved the shadow cast by the iron door.

Two of the guides in the Cathedral.

Another pulpit.

A bride at the bottom of the stairs who was using the Crypt for her wedding.

The Art in London Class went to the Tate Modern museum which is next to the Globe Theatre to view the modern art. Students were mixed on whether they liked modern art or not. We have also been busy rehearsing for our play, The Amish Project, which opens October 5 and runs through October 8. This is our last week at The Cockpit Theatre rehearsing; we move into the New Wimbledon Studio Theatre on Monday September 26th. Here are some rehearsal photos.

Celeste and Taylor, as father and daughter.