All the World's a Stage

Today was a bit of a change for us! Instead of heading straight to class in the morning, we instead headed off to the famouspiGlobe Theater!

Shakespeare's Globe Theater!

As the program was supposed to go, we should have seen a show at the Globe. However, because of a little thing called the Olympics, the Globe has decided to put on a worldwide celebration of Shakespeare in the form of all of his plays being performed in different languages! And although this is actually a very cool idea (they did Othello in Hip Hop. We're not sure how that works), no one really wanted to see Merchant of Venice performed in Hebrew. So instead, we were given a personalized tour and a mini acting workshop in the Globe!

We were able to watch the performers of the next play, Henry VIII, rehearse in Castilian Spanish. Sitting in the stalls and watching everything play out under a roofless building with no set was actually captivating! The actors were also being playful with each other, since it was only a rehearsal, and we got to laugh at their interactions with the director. Even though we had no idea what anyone was saying.

After the performance, our tour guide (a Globe actor himself) took us into a rehearsal room to give us a workshop on how actors would have rehearsed in Shakespearean times. He gave us all scripts to read and had us practice iambic pentameter. We even got to do the chorus part of Julius Caesar with him giving us cues and stage direction, meaning that I have now acted in the Globe Theater!

The Theater! And "Globe to Globe" is the international theater productions title!

After the Globe we all rushed home to cram in as much Irish history as possible. It's a little difficult to change gears so quickly (especially after the scandal of Henry VIII!) but we did our best on our drowsy afternoon quizzes.

After class, we decided to make the most of our afternoon by hitting up the museums. Olivia wanted to go to the Science Museum, and I definitely wanted to go to the Victoria and Albert. After another infamous direction mishap thanks to yours truly, we finally made it to our destinations with only 45 minutes to spare. The speed run-though of the V&A commenced, and I hit up my most desired locations first!

The entrance, with its token Chihuly glass sculpture/chandelier!

The newest exhibit, the ball gown exhibit! I was able to see all of the dresses historically through the ages. Unfortunately, I couldn't see the expensive designer pieces by all of the greats... You had to pay to get into that one.

Sadly, I only had time for the one exhibit (of course the fashion exhibit was a priority!) but I would love to go back before I have to leave. The V&A is massive and beautiful, and contains more elements of design than I have ever seen in one place. I could easily get obsessed!

I am prepping for our departure on Friday with a late-night load of laundry! Plenty of time to catch up on sleep tomorrow on the bus ride to Canterbury and Dover!