Stratford

Anne Hathaway's Cottage ASE students spend several days in the beautiful Elizabethan market town of Stratford-upon-Avon. During the stay they spend much of their time in the two Royal Shakespeare theatres: The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre and The Swan. ASE students may see up to four plays while in Stratford, and will also have the opportunity to visit properties managed by the Shakespeare Trust, including Shakespeare's Birthplace, Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Hall's Croft.

Taking a break at the Shakespeare Institute's garden

All ASE students attend pre-performance lectures given by ASE faculty, with occasional visiting speakers from the Shakespeare Institute and The Royal Shakespeare Company. These provide background to the plays, stage history and ideas towards critical interpretation, as well as affording students the opportunity to give feedback on productions.

While the Stratford trip is essential for all those students taking Shakespeare courses, all ASE students attend the plays, and have equal opportunity to identify the cast at "The Dirty Duck", the actors' favourite pub, after the performance.

Housing at Stratford

In Stratford, students are housed in small, comfortable bed and breakfast guest houses where a cooked breakfast is provided. Students' meal allowances are augmented to offset the increased expense of restaurant-dining at lunch time and in the evenings.