As the trip is coming to a close we spend the final days in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Compared to London this place is damn near silent. I haven’t heard a police siren the whole time and it’s amazing. It’s by far the best sleep I’ve been getting and compared to London it feels much safer as there are frankly less people. Sidewalks are mostly empty away from the market and damn near everyone has a dog. Exploring Stratford was interesting as the most entertaining parts don’t really have anything to do with Shakespear or theater at all. What I most enjoyed was the little food market and the park by the river. The places Involving Shakespear were neat and had beautiful gardens. My understanding of his work has increased in the respect that I can admire the rise from nothing. Going from apprentice of a glove maker to the most famous poet of all time. The journey here would have been much different as the lack of a bus would have made it quite longer and I imagine someone would have been burned as a heretic. Overall my appreciation for theater has increased several fold. Seeing amazing shows like Operation Mincemeat and Boys from the Black Stuff has revived my love for the art and my aspiration to be involved in shows and the creation of such wonderful experiences. The sheer amount of shows I’ve seen on this trip is more than the sum total I’ve seen in my life and I was blown away by the skill and dedication presented in each production we saw. The Technical elements in each show especially were expertly done Shows Like London Tide showed me a whole new world of possibilities when it comes to set application as well as lighting and choreography. While I am sad to be leaving London and its amazing Pubs, I am excited to get back into working in theater instead of just watching.
Theatre in London U of A 