English 397d: Alternative Theatres
The Edinburgh festival immersion experience can be exhilarating, inspiring, and educational as well as exhausting. With over 20,000 shows to choose from, the quality of a spectator’s experience often seems completely serendipitous. One goal of this course is to help you navigate the Fringe Festival efficiently and effectively, using time in Edinburgh to enhance your understanding of dramatic literature and performance, and to further develop your own educational and artistic interests.
This year, the course is focused on political theatre, and course reading material will be available online no later than August 1. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival site is available now, and you can learn about productions by browsing the online catalogue when it becomes available in early June.
Once in Edinburgh, students will meet daily with faculty, see at least 10 performances of contemporary and international work as a group, and construct a 2nd week schedule that fits their own project focus. Students will attend over 20 performances, read plays, keep a journal, and write a final paper on their festival focus.
The course also takes advantage of Edinburgh itself. You will be encouraged participate in city tours, see the castles, use the Scottish National Library, and explore the Royal Botannical Gardens. One full day Scottish Highland tour is included in the price of the program.
Whether you like political theatre, musical theatre, Shakespeare, dance, or stand-up comedy, there is something in Edinburgh for everyone! Students from non-English or Theatre majors can focus on something related to their own major.
Students from other colleges and Universities are also welcome. Course credits can usually be transferred, and with a faculty sponsor, credit in other departments can also be arranged. Graduate students are welcome with a faculty sponsor, through which graduate credit can be assigned.
Course enrollment is limited, and applications are accepted until the course is full--usually by the end of January.
Questions? Write to us at eng397d@english.umass.edu
