London 2005

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COURSE DESCRIPTION

An annual Winterim offering, Literature 317--The London Stage (3 cr), is organized by Paul Loucks <loucksap@potsdam.edu> in the Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences. The course is sponsored by the Department of English & Communication, counts for liberal arts credit and is available as an S/U option. Although designed to meet the needs of upper division drama and literature majors, Literature 317 is open (subject to instructor approval) to any student and all majors. If you appreciate live theatre, are curious about visiting London and interested in learning more about British culture, read on.

Students spend about two weeks in the United Kingdom, much of that time in London's West End. An out-of-town trip is also scheduled. In the past, groups have traveled to Bath, Greenwich, Oxford, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Windsor.

Eight or nine plays are scheduled at the discretion of the instructor. Past productions have included:

PLAY SELECTIONS

Additionally, students participate in theatre tours, historic walks and other theatre-related activities. These typically include guided visits to the restored Globe Theatre, the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden, the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, the Royal Opera House, the National Theatre, and varying day trips. A popular optional activity is the annual pub crawl.

All participants are encouraged to explore London's great museums, art galleries and historical sites during free times. For that reason the purchase of a good guide book is recommended.

TRIP LOGISTICS

The group departs SUNY Potsdam by college van for Ottawa International Airport, then flies to London's Heathrow Airport on an evening Air Canada flight. Return is 12-14 days later. Accommodations are made at a four star hotel and include daily continental breakfasts. An important consideration is reserving a hotel in a safe neighborhood, close to an Underground station and convenient to the West End. Recent hotels have been The Royal Lancaster at Lancaster Gate and the K West in Shepherd's Bush.

The package price for the 2004 trip was $2300. It included:

All ground transportation (local vans, airport shuttles, Underground Visitor Passes, motor coaches and/or British Rail tickets)
A group airfare rate
Lodging and continental breakfasts
All course-related theatre productions and activities

Meals and personal expenses are not included. A deposit of $550-600 is required by early Fall to secure airline reservations .

Refer to BUDGET for specific cost breakdowns and financial aid requests

Refer to ITINERARY for a sample schedule of activities

Refer to SYLLABUS for information relating to assignments and reading requirements.

Thirsty revelers conducting anthropological
research at the Seven Stars