June 6: Flight schedules TBD.

“O Brave New World that has such people in it!”

June 7: Meet your Discovery Expedition Tour Leader, Dori Robinson, at the airport. After a quick stretch and snack, we will drive to Runnymeade, the location of the signing of the Magna Carte. Once we arrive to Stratford-Upon-Avon, we check into our hotel and have a quick refresh before stretching our legs and orienting to downtown Stratford-upon-Avon. Dinner tonight at the Old Thatch Tavern is followed by an evening “What is Your Will” workshop, our opening activity to prepare for the week ahead.

“When I was at home, I was in a better place…”

June 8: The day begins with a tour Anne Hathaway’s Cottage (home of Shakespeare’s wife), followed by visiting Hall’s Croft (owned by Shakespeare’s daughter and her husband). We indulge at the Fourteas, a 1940’s themed tea room, for lunch. Next, we jump straight into Shakespeare’s words with a Text in Action workshop at the Shakespeare Centre, followed by taking in the beautiful Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare was baptized. Last by not least, we discover the private and public areas of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre through an interactive behind-the-scenes tour. Dinner tonight at The Dirty Duck – the most popular spot for thespians – followed by an evening performance at the Royal Shakespeare Company.

“Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow…”

June 9: As we journey towards London, we briefly stop in Oxford to visit several Harry Potter and Alice and Wonderland sites, including Christ Church College. We take lunch there before continuing to London. After stopping at the hotel, we will meet our Blue Badge Guide who will bring all of London’s history, ceremony, and pageantry to life in a walking tour of: Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Downing Street, The London Eye, The River Thames, Buckingham Palace, and Big Ben. Dinner tonight and evening performance in the West End.

“What’s Past is Prologue”

June 10: Today is a Museum Morning, where we visit both the British Museum and the British Library to take in some of England’s most extraordinary literary treasures: from the Rosetta Stone and the Magna Carta, to handwritten Beatles lyrics. We lunch in Borough Market at London Bridge before embarking on an exclusive tour of the Royal National Theatre, preeminent theatre of the West End, followed by their physical theatre workshop. Dinner in the Southbank. Evening options include: ride the London Eye (extra fee) or visit Trafalgar Square at night.

“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.”

June 11: All aboard the Hogwarts’s Express! Today’s lesson begins with the Warner Brothers Studio Tour, including the holding room, the cinema, and the Great Hall. See the real sets, costumes and props used in the films, and go behind-the-scenes to see how they were all made! Afterward, we have a lesson with the education team (subject to availability). Once we’ve eaten lunch (including butterbeer and chocolate frogs), we continue to other sites of Harry Potter World, including: Knight Bus, Privet Drive, and the Wand Tribute Room Finish the Day with a green screen broom ride experience! Dinner and evening return from Harry Potter World.

“Education never ends… It is a series of lessons with the greatest for the last.”

June 12: As we continue to explore new and old stories which originated in the UK, we add in the a and that took the world by storm and changed the face of music forever – the Beatles! We will do a walking tour of the Beatles’ London, including 3 Saville Row and the London Pavilion. After lunch, we go to the East End for a matinee. After dinner, we continue our Magical Mystery tour by visiting more Beatles related sites in London.

“All the World’s a Stage.”

June 13: Old meets new today as we tour both the Rose Theatre as well as Shakespeare’s Globe, a reconstruction of the original Globe Theatre. After lunch and time for exploration at Borough Market, we go to Theatre Deli rehearsal spaces for an exclusive workshop. Potential Partnership: Various playwrights of the London Scene, or Company Three, a vibrant company for youth ages 11-19 who collaborate with professional actors http://www.companythree.co.uk/

Tonight: Sunday Roast with other young theatre students! A chance to be social with like-minded theatre artists who are as passionate about performance as you are.

“You sort of start thinking anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.”

June 14: Option A – With the skills learned in the previous day’s workshop, students break into three groups (Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter, or William Shakespeare), each with a faculty member and a teaching artist/guide. These teams will visit 1-2 more sites relating to their literary theme. Not only will the groups take in more of the history and excitement behind these locations, but they will also be guided by the teaching artist to create their own short site-specific performance. Time depending, performances will be shared with the other two groups either in person, or via video. Option B – The group as a whole continues to explore London at the Victoria and Albert Museum in the morning, following by 1-2 more sites of whichever the literary theme of their choosing. Tonight: Farewell dinner and pack for the return home.

“Education never ends… It is a series of lessons with the greatest for the last.”

June 15/16: We open with a closing activity today, bringing together all our lessons about literacy, storytelling, adaptation, and young heroes. Once we have loaded our coach, we take one last look of London by visiting the exciting, retro, unique, and vintage Camden Market with thousands of shops and food from every corner of the world. Here we will pick up lunch and last-minute souvenirs before transferring to the airport and returning home.