English 397DH: Alternative Theatres
Navigating the Edinburgh Fringe Theatre Festival
The Edinburgh festival immersion experience can be exhilarating, inspiring, educational–and 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 Festival effectively, using time in Edinburgh to enhance your understanding of theatre and to further develop your own educational and artistic goals.
The course is focused on politically relevant, international, and artistically cutting edge theatre. Pre-course reading and short writing assignments are available online in July. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival site is available year round at www.edfringe.com. You can learn about productions by browsing the online catalogue when it becomes available in June.
Once in Edinburgh, students attend 12 theatre productions as a group: tickets for these performances are included in the program cost. During the 2nd week, students follow their own interests and see shows on their own. Eight additional performances are required the second week, although students often see many more. Your selections may be guided by your budget as well as your interest: and there are many opportunities to see free shows at the fringe. Course requirements include a daily journal, short papers, group discussions, and a final project due after returning home.
The course also takes advantage of Edinburgh itself–the castles, the Scottish national Library, the new Scottish Parliament, Arthur’s Seat, the Royal Botannical Gardens. A City Tour and 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 departments other than English or Theatre may focus on a subject related to their own major. Art, music, history, anthropology, and communications students are encouraged to apply.
The course is open to any undergraduate attending an accredited college or University. Undergraduates earn 4 honors credits; graduate students interested in taking the course do so through Independent Study. Non-credit options are also available.
Current accommodations allow us to enroll no more than 24 students. Applications are accepted until the class is filled. Students with deposits in before Dec. 31 earn a $200. discount. A wait list is offered should the course close before the March 15 deadline.
DEADLINE: MARCH 15, 2011 (or until course is filled)
Questions? Write to us at jspencer@english.umass.edu
