Asbury University Students Study Acting at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

September 6, 2022

In August, twelve Asbury University students returned from studying Shakespeare and performing Macbeth at the Globe Theatre in London. Students learned from notable instructors, including Philip Bird (with numerous West End, film, and television credits) and Jamie Ballard who played Harry Potter in the West End’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Asbury’s Theatre Program sponsored the trip, which was led by Carol Anderson, Asbury’s theatre lecturer, and Dr. Jim Shores, Asbury’s program director for communication.

Students studied voice, movement, text work, stage combat, and theatre history with professors from Cambridge University, the Royal Shakespeare Academy, and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. When not studying at the Globe, students attended shows at the Globe and West End, as well as exploring historical sites and art museums.

The trip included a trip to Oxford University, highlighting C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Students strolled Addison’s Walk, where Tolkien had an evening conversation with Lewis, which Lewis later said was a turning point in his journey from atheism to Christianity.

“The entire garden area was like a piece of Eden for me,” said Asbury senior Samuel Kiesling. “There was a joining of stillness and vigor through which God spoke to my heart.”

Junior Maya Kash summed up the trip this way: “I will remember my experience in London for the rest of my life. It was the best trip I have ever been on and has completely changed my life.”

Junior Rixa Clark reflected on acting as a process of life-long learning: “As actors, we are always learning. We do not get to the Globe or any other big theatre and think that we have reached the top and do not need to learn or work hard anymore.”

Junior Eswin Monroy summed up his learning experience this way: “If I can perform Shakespeare at the Globe, then I feel that I can do anything.”

After studying Shakespeare for two weeks, students traveled to Scotland to perform in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022. Joining more than 3,000 shows from August 5-29, students performed A Viking Summer, a romantic comedy written and directed by Dr. Jim Shores. Sponsoring the show was the Beating Heart Group of Scotland, which promotes initiatives that minister to new mothers, the aged, individuals with disabilities, and those living in poverty.

To learn more about Asbury University’s Theatre Program, visit: https://www.asbury.edu/academics/departments/communication-theatre/theatre/.