2019 UK Drama Tour

Today was the final day of the tour spent in Paris. Mother Nature blessed us again with stunning weather including clear blue skies for our trip up the Eiffel Tower. The day began with a backstage tour of the famous Palais Garnier, the exquisite Opera House that inspired the Phantom of the Opera. Charles Garnier built the opera house in the ‘Napoleon lll’ style - an eclectic mix. The ‘God of Music’ Apollo, played by the ‘The Sun King’ King Louis XIV, who also established the Académie Royale de Danse, was featured throughout the venue in paintings and statues, along with his instrument, a lyre.  Following the tour, the students headed to a Paris icon, the Eiffel Tower. They were ready to head up to the summit and take some beautiful photographs of the ‘city of love’. A highlight for many.  The final destination for sight seeing was the Arc de Triumph. The students had some time to explore part of the Champs-Élysées shopping street, that meets the Arc de Triumph. They were a

An upmarket shopping adventure at the Gallerie Laffayette left the students with stars in their eyes! A stunning floating Christmas tree with interactive ornaments filled the centre of the dome-shaped building. Following some shopping, the students boarded the coach to the Lourve Museum to take in the priceless and timeless art works from history. The Lourve is known as the best museum in the world and boasts a variety of divine creations including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. More hours could have been spent exploring this extraordinary venue.  To finish the day, the students were treated to an evening cruise on the River Seine. They saw the Eiffel Tower sparkle in all its glory and gained an appreciation of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, even after the fire disaster, it is still beautiful. 

Today was a quieter day for the students after a big night travelling from London to Paris. They boarded the coach to see the final piece of theatre for the tour. Performed at the world famous Cartoucherie, ‘A Room in India’ by Theatre du Soleil was a political theatre masterpiece.  The students were incredibly lucky to see such a special show. All theatre people in Australia try to see this company live and travel year after year to their residence just outside Paris.  In Australia each year, 100’s    of drama students watch the recorded plays of Theatre du Soleil (Theatre of the Sun) on video to learn Epic Theatre and write essays, analysing their performances. Very few get to see them live! They have been to Australia with a live show twice in 50 years. ‘A Room in India’ is political theatre and asks its audience - what is the purpose of theatre making in the current volatile political world situation? This is extremely relevant to all theatre, theatre makers and artists

After departing the beautiful Crowne Plaza Hotel at Stratford, the students arrived in the little picturesque area of Richmond, ready for a once in a lifetime workshop in the Meisner acting theory. There was time to explore the area for some lunch before partaking in the workshop at a local community building.  The Meisner workshop was run by a young ‘cool’ actor from New Zealand named Robyn. She is well travelled and has trained with some of the best coaches all around the world. She studied at the New York Meisner School and is now one of two practitioners teaching in London. The technique teaches an actor to be honest, truthful and present in the moment. She taught them skills in how to listen attentively and to provide their whole undivided attention to the person (actor) in front of them. Robyn explained there is ‘no such thing as character’ in Meisner. An actor must read the circumstance and to respond to the actor in front of you with impulse and instinct. They must ‘get o

An early start to the day took the students via coach to Stratford-Upon-Avon to visit the Birth Place of Shakespeare and the Royal Shakespeare Company. It was refreshing to pass through the lush green hills of ‘country’ England and visit a small town with quaint streets and historical buildings all festively decorated. However, on arrival, it was apparent the small town had come to life this weekend for the annual ‘Victorian’ market. The streets were lined with market stalls of food, homemade treasures and entertainers. There was a special community culture feeling bubbling in the streets, we were lucky to experience it.  After a look through the markets, a tour through Shakespeare’s birth place and first home. It was lovely to see how much history had been preserved. It was clear the towns people were proud of their Shakespearean fame and loved sharing it with us.  The students were in for a real treat with an insightful workshop with a director from the Royal Shakespeare Com