Carson School students study abroad at Globe Theatre in England

calendar icon20 Jul 2017    

Lincoln, Neb.--Sixteen students from the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film and one student from the College of Journalism and Mass Communications studied internationally this summer at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, England, thanks in part to support from the Hixson-Lied Endowment.

Assistant Professor of Practice Wesley Broulik, who accompanied the students to London, said the experience was life-changing for the students.

“These students have lived in London for a month. They can now visit and show other people around,” he said. “They can navigate the Underground and Public Transit. They have learned about British history and culture. In addition to visiting The Imperial War Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, Museum of London, Tate Modern, Tate Britain, and the British Museum, they watched six theater productions as a group (and many struck out on their own and watched more), they had workshops with two of the most innovative British companies producing work, and they learned about Shakespeare’s Globe, The Globe way of approaching text and theatre as well as history, architecture, and design.

"They learned about London and the British people in very unique ways. They were here during the Manchester Bombing, The London Bridge Attacks and a major election with a hung Parliament. They got to see a city bounce back and thrive in the face of adversity and how an amazing city like London, deals with fear.

“At the end of all of this, they got to perform, in candlelight, in The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. It allowed them explore performance practices in a Jacobean theatre. There are only a few spaces like the SWP in existence. They got to stand on the stage at Shakespeare’s Globe and speak Shakespeare’s glorious text. I hope this experience is something they will tell their grandchildren about since so few have done what they have done.”

Founded by the pioneering American actor and director Sam Wanamaker, Shakespeare’s Globe is an international resource dedicated to the exploration of Shakespeare’s work and the playhouse for which he wrote, through the connected means of performance and education.

Emmalee Allen, a junior theatre performance major from Cincinnati, Ohio, was grateful for the experience.

“It’s been a difficult growing experience, and one that I will never forget,” she said. “I’ve loved working with the professionals who have so much experience performing Shakespeare at the Globe. This experience is helping me graduate early and have a stronger background in Shakespeare.”