All the World's a Stage

with CulturalTravels.net Tour Hosts
by Sheri Leigh -  Tour Hosts are in Bold

Spectacular theater experiences abound throughout the world, from Moscow’s A.A. Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum to the Whirling Dervishes Festival in Koyna, Turkey.  London’s West End, New York’s Broadway, Ashland in Oregon and even your own back yard can provide opportunities to see great works upon the stage or relive their glories. While you don’t need to transverse the globe to experience the magic of live theater, this month’s Tour Hosts provide a great selection of theater tours that will transport you throughout the English-speaking world. On a quest for entertainment and education, you can’t find more knowledgeable guides anywhere.

Franceline’s Cultural Tours offers theater tours to three different countries. Each unique in their contribution to theater and literature, London, Dublin and Sydney all host an array of spectacular talent. The breath and depth of Franceline Rudd’s itineraries has earned her company the selection of November’s Pick of the Month.

Want to see a show?  Theatre Direct International is the place to get all your tickets for Broadway or London shows. Their site gives up-to-the-minute descriptions of currently running shows in both cities. A fantastic value for people who prefer flexibility is the Society Of London Theatres SOLT pass. The $34 pass, only available in the U.S., is the equivalent of a half-price ticket.  It can be exchanged in London for any of a number of West End shows. If you have ever found yourself looking for a last-minute play, you will appreciate the value and hassle-free access to the best the West End has to offer.

London is the home of Berkeley Travel with Scholars Program. This course spends three marvelous weeks focusing on how plays are put together. Spend your evenings attending performances and mornings at seminars discussing the plays. Taught by leading critics and professors, lectures are enhanced by special notable guests. For a more formal educational experience, Berkeley offers two three-week courses in residence at Oxford University each summer for Shakespeare devotees.

Oxford Tours, led by a former Oxford University literature tutor, visits places of significance in the Bard’s life. From The Globe Theatre in London through the streets of Stratford and into the Warwickshire countryside, see the sights that influenced the greatest writer in the English language. Special visits are arranged with actors and scholars who share their interests and passion for Will’s work.

Every summer the Stratford Festival of Canada highlights an astounding array of plays, with lots of Shakespeare. A series of academic programs are offered in August, which include multi-week classes for performers, teachers and workshops for the general public. A feast for all the senses, the festival also offers music, informal discussions with the actors, post-production discussions and tours of the backstage and costume warehouses.

A stage designed as a work of art itself, the elaborate design and colors of the Palau de la Musica Catalana invoke the passions of visitors. This is one of only a few theaters that have received UNESCO’s World Heritage Site status. Designed to house the Orfeo Catalan choir, it is a symbol of all that theaters can represent. Grand, imposing and home to uplifting experiences, the building is an attraction in itself.

Good night sweet travelers and may dreams of theatre take thee to thy rest.