Carson School students study at Shakespeare's Globe in London
calendar icon22 Aug 2024
Lincoln, Neb.--Sixteen students from the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film studied this summer at Shakespeare’s Globe in London, England, from May 25-June 15. The course was led by Assistant Professor of Practice Ann Marie Pollard.
Shakespeare’s Globe is a world-renowned theatre, education center and cultural landmark located on the south bank of the River Thames in London. It is a reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, an Elizabethan-era playhouse.
“This program allows students to encounter some of the top-tier theatre in the world, to experience living as actors in a major international city, and, uniquely, to pair up with actors-in-training in London,” Pollard said. “At every turn, there’s an opportunity to set sights higher and to infuse the remainder of their time at UNL with greater commitment and drive.”
Studying at the Globe is an intensive program.
“At the Globe, the students are encouraged to increase the seriousness with which they approach their craft while also bolstering a sense of play,” Pollard said. “They’re expected to attend to exercises with great diligence while also letting go of the idea of perfection. Getting permission to explore their training afresh with a different set of instructors for an intensive few weeks provides them with an opportunity to take up more space with their vocal and physical choices and to reap the rewards of working with less self-consciousness.”
Alura Long, a senior acting major from Austin, Texas, heard about this summer program when she was auditioning for UNL’s theatre program.
“I knew immediately that I would want to participate,” she said. “Having the opportunity to work on my craft while exploring a city I’ve always wanted to visit is hard to say no to. And after this summer, I definitely want to go back. This trip really helped me to grow not just as an artist, but as a person, and I would absolutely do it again.”
The experience made her appreciate the work of Shakespeare more.
“Like a lot of people, my introduction to Shakespeare was reading a few plays in my high school English classes,” Long said. “Through the work in our normal acting courses, I definitely became more intrigued. After this summer, with getting to see ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ at the Globe Theatre while working on a scene study, I must say I’ve grown quite fond of it.”
Jackson Wells, a senior acting major from Concordia, Missouri, was a Shakespeare fan to begin with.
“Starting with a class in high school, then a history class, then an acting class all concerning Shakespeare and the era of theatre he operated in, I have always had a strong interst in his works,” he said. “Needless to say, getting to see two shows in Shakespeare’s Globe and getting to have acting classes in and around the stage was extremely exciting. Getting to see his work in a close approximation of his original stage and being taught by some of the best Shakespeare teachers gave me an even deeper understanding of his work and gave me solid stepping stones I will use in my acting career.”
Wells said he has a new outlook on acting from this trip.
“The classes and workshops were so deep and detailed that spending three weeks in them was incredibly enlightening and opened new doors in my acting ability I never knew were closed,” he said. “This trip was so significant for me in my career. I’m so excited to go back to school for my last year to put everything I learned to use, as well as to use those new skills when I graduate and enter the workforce.”
AnnaLeesa Sawyer Telford, a senior acting major, knew they wanted to participate in the course.
“What made me decide to go was the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not only study at THE Globe, but also experience how it would be to live and work as an actor in London,” they said. “We also had amazing experiences seeing shows, experiencing the city, and working with other groups and people such as my favorite theatre group of all time—Frantic Assembly.”
Telford said studying at the Globe Theatre enhanced her appreciation for Shakespeare.
“I’ve always loved doing Shakespeare and through the BFA program, I’ve learned of also the financial benefits for the modern actor to be engaged and doing Shakespeare, as he is one of the most produced playwrights and his works are free to use,” they said. “This program took it to a completely new level as I learned to how to better my craft acting both Shakespeare and on stage. The knowledge I have gained will stick with me forever.”
Telford appreciated the experience of studying abroad.
“Study abroad is really valuable to me,” they said. “I had to work really hard to save enough money to take this opportunity and scholarships and a small loan. I personally think it’s so important to experience the world as well as new viewpoints from new and different people. I’m a big proponent of life-long learning because everyone in the world has different experiences and knowledge that you can benefit from.”
Sofia Drelicharz, a junior acting major from Omaha, Nebraska, wasn’t a fan of Shakespeare going into the course and almost didn’t go.
“I thought I didn’t like it and would never like it,. It seemed too old for me,” she said. “Working at the Globe flipped that opinion completely on its head for me, and I thought I would be the last one to say that. I now have such an appreciation for Shakespeare and an understanding of his works, which I am so thankful for because I realized how not pretentious his plays are. They are very human and truthful to humanity and all the flaws and beauty in its core. It just happens to have been written hundreds of years ago.”
Studying abroad was a valuable experience for her.
“Studying abroad opens up your eyes to a world beyond your home,” Drelicharz said. “I never had an interest in London or Shakespeare, and now I could see myself in London working on a Shakespeare project. It throws you out of your comfort zone and challenges you to see the world differently. I also loved how it felt like I was living on my own and working on a show in rehearsals. It felt like a preview to what a possible path could be, which is what studying abroad is about—living in a new way.”
Long said it was inspiring to be in London, which has so much art and beauty.
“We were fortunate to attend many shows, my favorite of which was ‘Lady Dealer’ at the Bush Theatre,” she said. “I remember leaving that production with a renewed sense of excitement for creating theatre. We also got to tour the National Theatre and the Royal Opera House, which was stunning. I went back to the Royal Opera House on my own and attended the Royal Ballet’s production of ‘Swan Lake,’ which was my personal highlight of the trip.”
Stepping on stage at the famed Globe Theatre is a special experience for the participants.
“I don’t even know how else to explain it, but it felt as if I was standing with history,” Telford said.
Long said, “I was prepared to feel quite intimidated on the stage when I first saw it, but I found the space almost comforting. There is something very cool and unique about the connection you feel with the audience in that space.”
The stage is massive.
“I think stepping onto the Globe Stage reveals the athleticism that acting on the stage requires,” Pollard said. “It ‘clicks’ just what it takes to fill the space and allows students to recognize a potential goal for their work. It’s an inspiring moment.”
Drelicharz said, “It takes a lot of energy to be able to take up space on that stage visually, let alone vocally, because the audience is huge and all around you.”
Drelicharz said the trip brought her out of her shell on stage.
“The ability to let go and be uncomfortable for the sake of a great performance is so difficult to obtain, and because of the workshops, and especially the classes at the Globe, I feel so much better with it,” she said. “I felt myself really open up, and I’m proud of the work I did.”
Pollard thanked Dean Andy Belser and Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film Director Hank Stratton for their support, both financial and curricular, for this program.
“Making it possible for the majority of our upperclass students to travel together for this formative experience is one of the things that sets our BFA in acting program apart and prepares our students to come together and encourage each other to continue to rise up to their potential during the academic year,” Pollard said.
Long said she is glad she participated in this experience.
“I feel like this course really allowed me to refresh and reconnect with my passion for what I do, and it sparked more motivation in me,” she said. “That, and I think my British accent is getting pretty convincing.”