Daily Schedule
Upcoming events.
***Check the daily events calendar (rather than the original planning schedule) for the most up-to-date information about meeting times and places.
Spectatorship and Performance Cultures in the UK and Ireland * May 2024
Spectatorship and Performance Cultures in the UK and Ireland * May 2024
Tuesday, May 7
Arrive in London
Morning: Arrive in London (most U.S. flights will leave late on May 6).. Dr. Essin and Dr. Cizmar will pick students up from Heathrow Airport (LHR) in groups and travel to our lodgings. Depending on the schedule, we will also pick students up from Gatwick Airport (LGW) or give them instructions to take the airport train to Victoria Station where we will meet them.
Afternoon: Check into Days Inn, London Hyde Park, 148 152 Sussex Gardens
Great neighborhood; couple of blocks to Paddington Station, Hyde park adjacent.
Expect small rooms; this is London.
If you take a nap, set your alarm for dinner. Getting up for a few hours before getting a full night’s sleep will help combat jet lab.
Evening: First group dinner (included)
Wednesday, May 8
Getting acclimated
&
Royal pageantry as national performance
Morning: Continental Breakfast (included; meats, cheeses, cereals, pastries, croissants, hard-boiled eggs, natural yogurt, and fresh fruit)
9:00, leave together for Buckingham Palace
10:30: Changing of the Guard ceremony.
Afternoon:
Class #1: Getting acclimated, including London transportation, and Performances of Nationalism.
Evening: Free time and get rested (long day tomorrow.)
Thursday, May 9
London’s Commercial Theatre Culture
Afternoon tea as social performance
Morning: Continental Breakfast (included)
Class #2: Culture as Tourism and London Commercial Theatre
Afternoon:
Exploring the Theatre District and Covent Garden, then afternoon tea. Glorious
Evening:
7:30: Les Miserables , Sondheim Theatre, London’s West End.
Friday, May 10
Heritage as performance
Morning: Continental Breakfast (included)
travel by train to Hampton Court Palace. Tour with audio guide “Explore Hampton Court as a Film Set,” noting the use of actor’s voices from historical dramas like The Favorite, Bridgerton, and Queen Charlotte.
Afternoon: Lunch at Hampton Court Palace.
Evening: Free
For those of you interested in seeing shows not programed already, this would be an excellent evening to see them.
Saturday, May 11
Theatre as Nation
Morning: Continental Breakfast (included)
Class #3, Theatre as Nation
Afternoon:
Victoria and Albert Museum, Theatre Collection
Evening:
Early dinner; consider eating at the National to soak up the atmosphere (inside or outside); The Understudy or Atrium Cafe have solid choices, or you might find something from one of the food vendors parked along the Thames.
7:30, Underdog: The Other Bronte Sister at the National Theatre.
Sunday, May 12
Shakespeare as Tourism
Morning: Continental Breakfast (included)
11:00: Lunch at Borough Market; lots of choices from venders, including savory pies, pastas, rice bowels, vegetarian dishes, etc.
12:00 : Class onsite, “Shakespeare as Tourism”
Afternoon:
1:00, Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare’s Globe.
Evening:
5:30pm - 7:00pm Discussion with Stephen Adly Guirgis at Hampstead Theatre Café
Monday, May 13
Free day
(We will bring the ABBA concert into our discussion another day, once we are ready to discuss immersive theatre.)
Morning: Continental Breakfast (included)
Free day in London until concert tonight
Rest
Explore
Whatever
Evening:
7:45, Abba Voyage concert, ABBA Arena, Pudding Mill Lane .
Tuesday, May 14
Seeing America in London
Morning: Continental Breakfast (included)
Afternoon: Museum Day. Suggestions: British Museum, Tate Modern, National Gallery.
Evening:
7:30, Between Riverside and Crazy at the Hamstead Theatre, Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage. (Cast discussed here)
Wednesday, May 15
London’s Fringe
Morning: Continental Breakfast (included)
Afternoon:
2:30, Matinee of The Ballad of Hattie and James at the Kiln Theatre (Booked)
Evening:
Consider arriving at the Royal Court early for dinner at the onsite pub.
7:45, Dugsi Dayz at the Royal Court Theatre (Booked)
Thursday, May 16
Sports & Spectatorship I
& Cabaret
Morning: Continental Breakfast (included)
9:30, travel to Lords Cricket Ground
10:00, Women’s match, UK Armed Forces T20 Cricket Day
Afternoon
You can stay for another match (three total), return to the hotel to pack, or explore more of London.
Evening:
7:30, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club (Playhouse Theatre)
Download the Lord’s app to receive your ticket.
Friday, May 17
Travel to Dublin
Morning: Breakfast (included), and check out of lodging.
8:00, travel to Euston Station; 9:02 Train to Holyhead (arrive 12:47)
Afternoon: Touring to Holyhead; Ferry to Dublin.
1:00, lunch in Holyhead
2:40, ferry to Dublin (arrive 5:55); board #53 bus to Busarus.
Class on ferry: Navigating Dublin.
Check into Jacob’s Inn, where we have two rooms booked; a 4-bed pod with ensuite bathroom and a 10-bed private dorm with ensuite bathroom. This is a hostel—quintessentially Dublin experience— and you’ll be able to meet other university students in the common areas (lounge, bar, cafe, etc.) Every morning you’ll also have a full buffet breakfast.
Evening: Free
It’s your first night in a new city; please explore in groups. Yes, you’ll likely find your way to Temple Bar, and it’s a Friday night so it will be crowded. Be smart and take care of each other.
Saturday, May 18
Sports & Spectatorship II
Morning: Full Breakfast (included) at Jacob’s Inn.
10:30 Audio Walking Tours. Meet in the lobby, and we’ll make our way to the start of the tour
Afternoon: Free
Evening:
6:00, Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Round 4 - Dublin V Kilkenny at Parnell Park, Clontarf West, Donnycarney, Co. Dublin, Ireland.
Sunday, May 19
Heritage Tourism & Irishness
Morning: Full Breakfast (included) at Jacob’s Inn
Free to explore
Afternoon:
Evening:
6:30, Pick up by bus on Westmoreland Street, At College Green, opposite the College Green Hotel.
7:30, The Hooley Show at Johnnie Fox’s Pub
Monday, May 20
Touring as Performance
Morning: Full Breakfast (included) at Jacob’s Inn.
6:45, Tour bus pick-up at Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin , 23 Upper O'Connell Street.
11:00, Arrive at the Cliffs of Mohr.
Afternoon: (Bag lunch included)
1:00, Tour Burren National Park and Galway Bay.
3:20, Walking tour of Galway, followed by exploring
5:20, Tour bus leaves Galway
Evening:
8:00, Return to Dublin
Tuesday, May 21
Irish Storytelling
Morning: Full Breakfast (included) at Jacob’s Inn.
Free to explore until 4:30, then make your way to the Stag’s Head Pub.
Afternoon:
5:00, An Evening of Irish Folklore and Fairies at the Stag’s Head Pub
Evening:
6:30, Group dinner at the Stag’s Head Pub
Wednesday, May 22
Travel to Glasgow
Morning: Full breakfast at Jacob’s Inn (included); Check out of hotel.
8:00 am, meet charter bus for drive to Belfast Ferry Terminal
11:30 am, Stena Ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan, Scotland
Afternoon:
2:15 pm, bus to Glasgow, arrive 4:45.
Check in to Yotel Glasgow; central location next to the Central Train Station (45 min. to Edinburgh).
Evening: Free to rest or explore.
Thursday, May 23
Walking the Medieval City, Edinburgh
Morning: Full breakfast at Yotel (included)
9:30, Train to Edinburgh from Glasgow Central Station (across the street from the Yotel)
11:00, Museum of Scotland
Afternoon:
1:20, Witches Old Town Walking Tour and Underground Vault, meet at
1 Parliament Square, 192 High Street.Continuing touring: options, Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, explore the Royal Mile, explore Victoria street (possibly the inspiration for Diagon Alley) and Grassmarket, explore the University of Edinburgh, or climb Arthur’s Seat.
Evening: Free to explore in Edinburgh or Glasgow; use your return ticket and come back when you are ready.
Friday, May 24
Theatre spectatorship in Glasgow
Morning: Full breakfast at Yotel (included)
Free morning; take public transportation to Oran Mor, Byres Rd, Glasgow G12 8QX
The venue is next to Glasgow’s Botanical Garden and a quick walk to the University of Glasgow, if you want to get a early start (or explore after}.
Afternoon: Oran Mor, A Play, a Pie, and a Pint,
12:00, venue opens; stand in line for your pie and pint
12:30, Dungeons, Dragons, and D***
Evening:
7:30, King’s Theatre, Kinky Boots
Saturday, May 25
Explore Glasgow or Edinburgh on your own
Scottish Culture and Comedy
Morning: Full breakfast at Yotel (included)
Free day to explore more of Glasgow or Edinburgh, your choice. Just return in time for the performance.
Evening:
7:30, Dear Billy at the Pavilion Theatre, National Theatre of Scotland
Help Dr. E. celebrate her birthday!
Sunday, May 26
Atholl Gathering and Highland Games
Morning: Full breakfast at Yotel (included);
7:50, Board tour bus. Bring items for day trip: rain gear and umbrella, a towel to sit on in the grass, water bottle, etc.
10:30, arrive at Blair Castle for the Atholl Gathering and Highland Games
Lunch available at tents.
3:30, board bus back to Glasgow.
4:45, stop for photos at Stirling Castle.
6:00, arrive back at Yotel.
Evening: Free
Don’t go wild…we leave for London by train in the morning.
Monday, May 27
Return to London
Morning: Full breakfast at Yotel (included); check out.
10:00 am, train, Glasgow Central to London Kings Cross.
Afternoon: Check into lodging, St. Giles London.
We’ve changed locations for our second stay in London, shift in perspective. We’ll be in the heart of Bloomsbury, within walking distance to the British Museum and Covent Garden. Again, expect SMALL rooms, but each of you will have your own single bed.
Evening: Free
Tuesday, May 28
Immersed in Harry Potter
Morning: Full breakfast (included)
Student selected excursion
Afternoon:
3:30, Travel by train to Watford Junction, catch bus to Warner Bros. Studios
5:00, “The Making of Harry Potter” tour.
Evening: Free, after returning from the studio tour.
Wednesday, May 29
Morning: Full breakfast (included); Student selected excursion
Afternoon: Student selected excursion
Evening: Group activity
Thursday, May 30
An Immersive Journey
Morning: Full breakfast (included)
Afternoon: Student selected excursion
Evening:
5:45, The Murder Express: An Immersive Dining Experience (dinner included)
Friday, May 31
Morning: Full breakfast (included); Student selected excursion
Afternoon: Student selected excursion
Evening: Group activity
Saturday, June 1
Morning: Full breakfast (included)
Afternoon: Free
Evening: Final dinner
Sunday, June 2
Leave London
Morning: Full breakfast (included); Check out of lodgings.
Be sure Dr. Essin And Dr. Cizmar know your travel schedule for this day; if you are flying home or flying to another destination, make sure we know your flight numbers and mode of transportation to the airport. If you are meeting family/friends in London, let us know where.