Siri, Play So Long, London

Well. This is it. I knew this day was coming, but I did not think it would be here so fast. Yes, we still have the rest of today left in Stratford-upon-Avon, but this is my last post. Ending the trip here in Stratford-upon-Avon feels perfect. It has been a nice place to get a sense of calm before heading back to you across the pond.

This town and its contexts are quaint and historic. Everywhere you look, there is a tutor building or a building that seems it was built when Jesus walked amongst the streets. I am only half joking… There are Shakespeare themed taverns, distilleries, and even a cute little cat cafe. You will definitely be hearing about the kitties in the next paragraph. One of my favorite things about this place is how beautiful the buildings are. Tutor buildings do not feel real to me. They are so picturesque. Getting the chance to step into one for the first time yesterday was a little underwhelming because the prettiness ends at the outside. The insides are small, creaky, and just old. Very cool, though!

The Shakespaw Cat Cafe (yes, I know) was the highlight of the Stratford-upon-Avon days of the trip. I know, I know, I got to see the house in which Shakespeare himself was born but cats hold a bigger space in my heart, sorry. This place was full of cats with Shakespeare themed names and a majority were British shorthair and longhair. There were a couple of kitties barreling around and being silly little guys but overall, all the kitties were calm and basking in the minimal sun by the windows upstairs. Emma and I had been to a cat cafe back in London, but this one felt extra special because of the theme. We also had afternoon tea with the kitties and felt very England, very classy.

Moving along, the idea that Shakespeare lived in this tiny town was hard to imagine for me. The fact that Shakespeare’s Birthplace was built in the 15th century is hard to conceptualize. The fact that this space still stands sturdy today? How cool! And that I stood right next to where it is thought he was born? Even just standing next to the building was fascinating to me. Yes, I thought the inside was a little underwhelming, but this space is so old for it to be a house. So much history! An interesting story relating to this specific space is that there was an American who wanted to purchase the house and move it to America. Charles Dickens and several other famous writers banded together to raise money to buy the space and eventually turn it into Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust.

I bet you are wondering what you could compare this area to! A town that I feel could compare size wise would be Van Buren, Arkansas. Just outside of Fort Smith, the small town has a historical downtown area that has older buildings with cool shops. Stratford-upon-Avon is definitely cooler, prettier, and better in every way imaginable, but still. Similar enough that I could draw some parallels to give you an idea of size and vibe.

This trip has been life changing for me. This is the kind of trip I never thought I would be able to go on, yet here I am, nearing the finish line. There are not enough words nor can I articulate how much this experience has meant to me. I have got to see more theatre in the month here than I have my entire life. I got such a wide array of experiences in the theatre that I could not get in Fayetteville. I have new favorite shows. I got to eat so much vegan food and never did I have to starve, or eat vegetarian like I was worried I would have to. I got to be free, experience a beautiful and memorable city. I learned so much about the history of theatre, myself, and my peers. I have made new friends and strengthened some. I absolutely adore England and all its little quirks and complications. I truly think I will be leaving a little piece of myself back here. I am totally not sobbing while typing this. I am coming back to the US a different person with so much love, appreciation, and a rekindled passion for theatre. It is exactly what I wanted from this experience and then some.