Daneyliz Rodriguez, Abigail Johnson, Natalie Ferris, and Hailey Mattes get excited for the Globe's Macbeth.
Associate Professor Jen Schlueter and Sifiso Mazibuko (MFA '15)
By Linnea Bond, MFA Student
Where can you find Ralph Fiennes, Rory Kinnear, Elizabeth McGovern, Vannessa Redgrave, and Ohio State grad Sifiso Mazibuko all in the same place? On this past summer’s Ohio State Theatre trip to London!
In July 2016, twelve undergrads and five graduates led by professors Jen Schlueter and Kristine Kearney traveled to London, where they spent a month seeing plays, discussing theatre, hearing from a mix of guest lecturers, and visiting landmarks as they got to know one of the world’s most important theatre cities.
Amid a plethora of productions at every size of theatre and arrangement of space, the summer’s show highlights from the trip include Ralph Fiennes and Vanessa Redgrave in Richard III, five outstanding productions at the National Theatre, the premiere of Groundhog’s Day at the Old Vic, and several productions at the Globe. The students also took a trip to Stratford, where they were able to tour landmarks from Shakespeare’s life, and saw three productions on RSC stages. Celebrating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, there were plenty of classic plays written by both the bard and his contemporaries, but there was also a terrific selection of new work, premieres, and devised pieces to round out the mix.
Students said that although the trip was busy, they enjoyed such a packed summer of getting to experience great theatre and explore such a diverse and exciting city. For many, the trip enabled them to deepen their craft or interest in working in the industry once they graduate. It was a summer of entertainment, enlightenment, and enjoyment for all.
