Course readings/texts: 

Online essays linked from this class’ web page. ---->

Trussler, Simon, The Cambridge Illustrated History of British Theatre, Cambridge: University Press, 1994.

Recommended advance readings:  

Leapman, Michael, and Scott, Mary (eds.) Eyewitness Travel Guide to London, London, DK Adult, 2003 (any edition is OK)

Other books of interest: 

Costumes and Scripts in the Elizabethan Theatres

Guide to Performing Arts Programs : Profiles of over 600 Colleges, High Schools, and Summer Programs

A Source Book in Theatrical History

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Restored

Female Playwrights of the Restoration: Five Comedies (Everyman

The Secret Life of Aphra Behn

The Rover and Other Plays (The World's Classics)

Sexual Violence on the Jacobean Stage

Week 1: Introduction to course.  Slide show on Archeological evidence of theatre in Ancient and Medieval Britain.  Slide show on British theatre architecture through history, showing both the theatres we will be visiting, and the theatres that no longer exist.

Week 2: Visit to the Roman Amphitheatre ruins in Guildhall Yard and the Middle Temple Hall.

Week 3: The shadow economy of Southwark and a visit to The George Inn and the Old Operating Theatre  

• The George Inn Theatre and picture
• The inn-yard as theatre

    
Exhibits at the Theatre Museum

Week 4: The development of costumes and makeup, and visit to the Theatre Museum

The stage of the reconstruction of the Globe Theatre

Week 5: Visit to the reconstruction of the Globe.

Week 6: Lecture on sex and the theatre economy and visit to the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Week 7: Lecture on theatre mythology and legends and visit to the Old Vic Theatre

Week 8: Lecture on theatre scenery in the 19^th century and visit to Pollock’s Toy Theatre collection or The Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood toy theatre collection

Week 9: “The man who pays the bills...” and visit to Wilton’s Music Hall

• Wilton's Music Hall

Week 10: State supported theatre, and a visit to the Royal National Theatre Complex

Week 11: Group presentations

Proposed Excursions:  

ˇ        Evening theatre performances as available.  Should include a visit to the “Player’s Theatre” at the Venue (recreation of c.1900 Music Hall show), A G&S Opera, Pantomime, Shakespeare, and any other historically interesting plays that can be found in the 2006 season.

ˇ        Roman Theatre of Verulamium, St. Albans, area also has a Roman Museum and fortress walls, one of the oldest Gothic churches in the UK, a medieval clock tower and city center, and is only about 30 minutes from King’s Cross. 

• BeenThere-DoneThat: St. Albans, Hertforshire - Roman relics.

ˇ        On a Friday or Saturday only: Go to Bristol to take the tour of the 1766 theatre. Bristol Old Vic’s main house is the historic Theatre Royal in King Street. It is the oldest continuously working theatre in the country.

• Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond, North Yorkshire, 1788 Theatre in near perfect preservation, Theatre Museum.
• While it doesn’t directly have information for the course, a trip to Stratford would probably be a good idea.
• In the event that the Bath trip is approved for the Costume and Décor class, it could also be possible to tour the 1863 Theatre Royal, Bath.
• In addition to these excursions, I wish to arrange for students to meet for class in a number of places in London, including:

ˇ        The Theatre Museum

ˇ        Roman Amphitheatre ruins in Guildhall yard

ˇ        The Old Vic, Built in 1818

ˇ        Wilton’s Music Hall, Built in 1859

ˇ        Pollock’s Toy Theatre Collection (providing it has a new home by 2006)

ˇ        The Globe

ˇ        The George Inn

ˇ        The Middle Temple Hall

ˇ        The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

ˇ        The National Theatre Complex

ˇ        The Old Operating Theatre 

Instructional methodology: Students will be expected to complete two projects: a term-length notebook, journal, sketchbook, or blog reflecting on the places visited, and plays seen, in relationship with the course content, and a small-group research and reconstruction project on a specific performance from British theatre history. This latter can be presented in the form of a toy theatre performance, an acted performance, or a multimedia presentation with handouts and visual aids.

 Method of evaluation/grading

 ˇ        Attendance & participation, 10% of grade.

ˇ        Notebook, journal, sketchbook or blog, 50% of grade.

ˇ        Group research project and presentation 40% of grade.

[This page is purely an example of the kind of web pages I will be making for recruitment if I am selected to teach in the NCSA London program.  This is just part of the application I am making to NCSA, and not yet a real class.  To learn more about the existing AHA study programs around the world, including the NCSA London program, click HERE. ]

Useful Related Links: 

• The Roman Theatre of Verulamiun
• BeenThere-DoneThat: St. Albans, Hertforshire - Roman relics.
• Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret Web Site
• St. Albans Museums web site - Verulamium Museum
• Roman amphitheatre
• Newlyn in Cornwall - The Cornish Ordinalia
• St.Just plen-an-gwary
• The Ordinalia - Studies and Criticism
• St.Just plen-an-gwary
• The Cornish Ordinalia and the St. Just Plen-an-gwary
• The Ordinalia Site
• Piran Round
• Popular Romances of the West of England: Customs of Ancient Days: "St George" - The Christmas Plays
• http://www.nortonmede.com/theatres/page1.htm
• York Mystery Plays: Illumination - from Darkness into Light
• The Guilds of York - York Mystery Plays: background information
• Chester Mystery Plays - Miracle Plays
• The George Inn Theatre and picture
• The inn-yard as theatre
• The Georgian Theatre Royal - Richmond, North Yorkshire
• The Georgian Theatre Royal - Richmond, North Yorkshire
• Bristol Old Vic: Information: History
• BBC - London - Your London - Restoration - Wilton's Music Hall
• Wilton's Music Hall
• The Old Vic Theatre
• The Theatres Trust - protecting our theatres and making them better
• The Raymond Mander & Joe Mitchenson Theatre Collection
• Jerwood : Press Releases Archive : The Jerwood Library of the Performing Arts supports Trinity's distinctive mission
• :: Pollock's Toy Museum ONLINE ::
• The Sir John Soane's Museum Web Page
• The Player's Theatre Music Hall in London at The Venue - tickets and information
• A Caryn.com Treat for Halloween 2004: The Haunted Playhouse
• Really Useful Theatres Online - THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY LANE
• Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Bankside, Southwark, London

Back to main page

• Class #1: A History of British Fashion & Decor

• Class #2: British Theatre Practice from the Romans to the Present

• About instructor, Tara Maginnis

• About the Program

• Costume Travel Page