The Edinburgh Fringe Theatre Festival
English 397D Alternative Theatres: Navigating the Edinburgh Fringe Theatre Festival
Dates: August 9-22, 2010
- Experience the largest and oldest theatre festival in the world!
- See new plays and cutting edge international performances!
- Choose from 2,000 daily productions in over 250 venues!
- Earn 4 course credits (or more)!
- Develop your own research interest (Drama, Sound Design, Performance Art, Comedy…)
- Meet playwrights, actors, and other students!
- Explore medieval Edinburgh and the Scottish Highland!
Any entering or current college student student may apply. Invite your friends!
Rolling application process until class is filled (current cap: 12 students). See menu bar for application information and cost.
Check out the following article from the Fall 2009 English Department newsletter:
Highlights from the Highlands (pdf)
COMMENTS FROM FORMER STUDENTS:
This course provided the perfect opportunity for me to study abroad because going abroad for a year or a semester was not an option for me. The information I have come away with has been invaluable. I got enough data to write the paper for the course and I also created a larger research project for another class. The city is amazing and the accommodations are wonderful. All the venues and tourists sites were within an easy walking distance. The schedule is flexible, even in the first week, such that I felt I could always get to the shows I wanted and have time to relax, eat, and be a tourist. ~Karen Houchen Sise
If you enjoy traveling or just need a few extra credits, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Course is the best way to go! The two weeks were just enough time to get to know the city of Edinburgh. By the end of my time there I was well acquainted with the city and was able to see the Castle, Arthur’s Seat, the countryside of Scotland, and spend time in all the small shops and pubs that line Edinburgh’s streets. When Edinburgh is in full swing for the Fringe, the city comes alive with street performers, small comedy skits, larger productions, and just about anything else you can think of. Going to Edinburgh also gave me the chance to meet students from Umass and the five colleges that I would have never had the opportunity to get to know if I hadn’t gone. If you’re thinking about studying abroad but don’t know if you’ll have the time or don’t want to spend your entire summer away from home, this course is the perfect chance to have the best of both worlds. ~Kayla Gutfran
The course exposed me to new forms of theater, exciting shows, and the beautiful city of Edinburgh…This was a great educational opportunity, a unique experience I will not soon forget.~Colie Lemay
The Edinburgh course was such a unique abroad experience. It’s perfect for the student who wants to go abroad but can’t find time during the school year. Plus, it’s a great way to meet new people from both the five colleges and other places around the world! ~Kelsey Scudder
The Edinburgh program was one of the most fun and worthwhile experiences I’ve had. Jenny is one of the sweetest professors out there, the theater offerings are practically limitless, and the friends I’ve made are priceless. I’d recommend it to anyone! ~Gwen Gustavson
This course was my first time abroad, and it was the perfect way to introduce me to the world outside the US. I wish I could go back every summer! ~Allyse Knox
