Hi all,
The last week has somehow managed to feel both as long as a month and as short as a day. This is genuinely the most productive and mobile I've been since March 2020; our group has managed to visit 3 museums and attend 4 shows. From being a "groundling" at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre when seeing Much Ado About Nothing and standing mere inches from the actors to watching a hydraulic lift launch Sally Bowles from center stage in Cabaret, the plays have been intimate, exciting, and expressive.
Cabaret was definitely one of the most interesting and immersive plays we've seen. As much as the show is spoken about as the holy grail of plays both in and out of theatre communities, I went into the experience with absolutely no knowledge of the characters, plot, or songs. The show begins as soon as you enter the doors. We were greeted with a welcome drink and a sticker to cover our phone cameras (I know! So exclusive!) then led into a foyer draped in gold finishings and bewitching dancers in every corner. The Playhouse Theatre was fully decorated to resemble the 1940s KitKat Club and the designers did not forget an inch. Even during intermission actors were patrolling the seats with entertaining conversation, keeping the illusion of the KitKat Club alive. What was most impressive about the show was its 360-degree stage, with moving levels and a hydraulic lift, that forces the actors to play to every angle of the room. The holistic and encapsulating approach to theatre was enchantingly immersive and one of the most unforgettable experiences.
The next two photos were taken at The British Museum where we were instructed to write about an exhibit that was particularly interesting to us. "Cradle to Grave" by Pharmacopoeia was a striking installation of over 14,000 drugs that were encapsulated in a glass case spanning over 30 feet. The 14,000 drugs represented the average amount of medicine a British citizen is prescribed over the course of their lifetime. Around the case were photos of real British citizens at monumental points in life like getting married and learning how to ride a bike. This exhibit was a nuanced commentary on how personal well-being is more complex than just treating illness with medicine. While history museums typically aren't my favorite (I'm more of an art gallery kind of gal) I enjoyed walking around this installation and living through the lives of many British people.
Today, was a free day to travel around the city and site see. While we had been blessed with beautiful and sunny days all week, the rain and gloom of the morning made it a perfect day to visit the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio in Leavesden. The studio/museum was about an hour away from Central London, however, the travel was worth the visit! All 8 Harry Potter movies were actually filmed at the studio and the exhibits included the props, sets, costumes, and decor from the original films. As a very big fan of the books and movies, I was surprised to see how the filmmakers took the language of J.K. Rowling and crafted extravagant creatures, visual effects, and set designs to bring the story to life. Over three hours I was able to fly a quidditch broom, drink Butterbeer, and walk the Hogwarts express as the actors had done themselves. It was an authentic wizarding experience!
I'm excited to see what the next week brings!
Cheers :)
Derya D.
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