When studying theatre and the performing arts, two major locations come to mind: New York City’s Broadway and London’s West End. While Broadway may have more access to the Hollywood elite that are known to occasionally grace the stages, London’s West End is the largest theatre district in the world and is at the centre of the United Kingdom’s commercial theatre.
Student tours to the West End, which originally took its name from its location on the ‘west end’ of the city of London, can discuss the history of theatre and the performing arts in London. As well as a general overview, students can take in the history and backstage access to theatres such as The Globe, The Garrick Theatre, and the Theatre Royal, Drury haytheatre.com Lane.
The Globe – In Shoreditch, in 1576, the first purpose built theatre was constructed in connection with William Shakespeare. Appropriately, it was named The Theatre. When The Theatre’s lease expired in 1596, the timbers were transported to a new spot across the river. This new theatre burned down in 1613 and was rebuilt on the same spot by 1614, but closed down in 1642. Visitors can walk about 230 metres from the original site of The Globe to see the modern reconstruction, ‘Shakespeare’s Globe’, which was built in 1997. The reconstructed theatre was built as closely to the original theatre as possible, and student tours inside will show young theatre aficionados how it was constructed using ‘green’ oak that was cut and fashioned according to 16th century practices. Although there is no way of knowing what the original stage looked like, a walk across the current stage will show students how it was built according to conjecture, with as few modern additions as possible.
The Garrick Theatre – Located at 2 Charing Cross Road, The Garrick Theatre is a must see for students. Tours through the theatre will discuss the history of the venue and its namesake, David Garrick, who is arguably one of the most influential Shakespearian actors of all time. The theatre was designed by Walter Emden and originally seated 800 people, but the top level has since been closed and the seating reduced to 656. It opened in 1889 with a showing of The Prolifigate and has stayed in continual operation with a wide range of performances, including some directed by Laurence Olivier. In 1986 the theatre was acquired by Stoll Moss and refurbished, then became part of The Really Useful Group in 2000. Five years later it changed hands again to become the fifth in the Nimax Theatres Ltd. Group, alongside The Duchess Theatre, Lyric Theatre, Vaudeville, Theatre, and the Apollo Theatre.
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane – Student tours taking in the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, will bring students to the Catherine Street site, where the Theatre Royal is the fourth theatre to sit on this exact spot. With the first theatre here dating back to 1663, this is London’s oldest theatre site and arguably one of the most important in the English-speaking world. The present building has been in place since 1812 and is now a Grade I listed building owned by famed theatre mogul Andrew Lloyd Webber’s company, The Really Useful Group. For student groups wanting a bit of ‘behind the scenes’ action, the Theatre Royal offers backstage, interactive tours through the depths of the building and its history.
Robert Emdur works for Equity Student Travel, the UK’s leading specialist in group travel for students in higher and further education. We organise student tours to destinations around the world covering a wide range of subjects, as well as conference & event-focused trips..