The Play's the Thing: Exploring the English Theater's Past and Present

Location: London, England

Course Discipline:

  • Performing Arts

Credits: 3

Program Type: RIT Faculty-Led

Term(s): Spring/Summer

Language of Instruction: English

Level:

Undergraduate

Open To:

RIT Students only

London street with double decker bus, red phone booth and UK flag

Explore the history, culture, and creativity of theatre through live performances, iconic venues, and immersive experiences in one of the world’s greatest theatre cities.

Highlights:

  • Experience London’s world-renowned theatre scene through live performances, workshops, and behind-the-scenes opportunities.
  • Explore the history and evolution of English theatre, from Shakespearean classics to contemporary productions.
  • Attend up to five performances in London, including West End shows, Shakespearean theatre, and innovative fringe productions.
  • Visit iconic theatre and cultural sites, including the Globe Theatre, National Theatre, and Victoria and Albert Museum.
  • Discover the collaborative process of theatre-making through immersive, hands-on experiences.

Before traveling to England, you will take a spring course in Rochester that introduces the history, cultural significance, and artistic traditions of English theatre. Through readings, play analysis, and class discussions, you will build the foundation needed to better understand the performances and experiences you will encounter abroad. The course will explore the evolution of English drama, influential playwrights, and the ways theatre has reflected social, political, and cultural movements throughout history.

London provides the perfect setting to experience theatre in its many forms. As one of the world’s leading theatre capitals, the city offers access to a diverse range of performances from historic venues like the Globe Theatre and Royal Opera House, to the West End’s commercial productions, to experimental and innovative fringe theatre. While in London, you will attend live performances, participate in post-show discussions, visit iconic cultural landmarks, and engage in workshops and behind-the-scenes experiences that reveal the collaborative process of bringing theatre to life. Through immersive experiences in and around the city, you will deepen your understanding of theatre as both an art form and a reflection of culture.

Course Term: Spring course at RIT, travel to London in May
Travel Dates: May 15-26, 2027 (estimated)
Credits: 3

Course Details:

  • PRFL 319: Themes in Theatre Studies

Students will be enrolled in a spring 2027 course at RIT and travel to London in early summer. Course can count towards a Theater Arts minor or immersion, an Artistic Perspective, Free Elective, or General Education credit.

No pre-requisites. Open to undergraduate majors, 2nd year and above, 2.5 cumulative GPA or above

Housing
You will stay in shared hotel rooms while in London.

Application deadline: Sunday, October 18th, 2026, 11:59 PM (EST)

Program Cost & Financial Aid

Program Cost: A student budget worksheet outlining all program costs will be available in early September.

Financial Aid:
Financial aid may cover some program costs. As you review the budget worksheet, please remember that it does not include your RIT financial aid or scholarships, which may cover some of the program costs. The purpose of the budget worksheet is to show all the costs associated with your study abroad program, which will help your RIT Financial Aid Assistant Director determine how your aid and scholarships may be applied. 

To understand how your financial aid and scholarships may apply to your program costs:

  • Make an appointment with your financial aid assistant director (call Financial Aid at 585-475-2186) and mention that you are calling for a study abroad appointment
  • Upload a copy of your budget worksheet(s) via the Financial Aid upload portal at https://join.rit.edu/register/FA_upload (at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled meeting so they have time to prepare) 
    • Please rename the file name of your budget worksheet before uploading it to the Financial Aid portal based on the instructions provided in the portal (adding your name and student ID)

To find out the name of your financial aid assistant director for your degree program visit: https://www.rit.edu/admissions/aid/contact#counseling-team

We recommend you meet with Financial Aid before the application deadline so you understand how your aid will apply. The RIT financial aid office is located in Bausch and Lomb Center (Bldg. 77), 2nd floor, 2125.

Scholarships:

  • RIT Education Abroad Travel Grants ($500-$1,000)
    All students with pending applications in the RIT Study Abroad Compass for this program will be automatically considered for an RIT Education Abroad Travel Grant. You will be informed of your scholarship status shortly after the application deadline. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, as determined by financial aid and your FAFSA on file.

  • Additional Scholarships
    RIT scholarships and national scholarships for study abroad are good options to explore for scholarship funding. Ensure you check scholarship eligibility requirements and note the scholarship deadlines. 

To Apply

1) Start an application in the Compass (RIT's study abroad application system)
Once you login to the Compass you will need to complete some profile/registration questions, then use the “Search Programs” tab to search for “Play's the Thing” to complete an application.

2) Watch this video, which goes over all important application steps for RIT Faculty-Led Programs

Contact

Andy Head
School Director, Performing Arts
College of Liberal Arts
awhgla@rit.edu