THEATRE IN EUROPE
PAST & PRESENT
Study abroad program
This three-week, six-credit program will offer students a learning experience in the United Kingdom, including both England and Scotland. We will watch a wide variety of innovative performances, learn from theatre professionals, see artifacts and sites from theatre history, and explore European cultures that have profoundly impacted the development of American theatre. The next program is planned for May 2026, pending approval.
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WHAT WILL WE DO?
Every program is different,
but here are highlights of the 2024Â program
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EDINBURGH
Learn about the Tudors at Edinburgh Castle
See plays at the Imaginate International Children's Theatre Festival
YORK
Retrace the route of the medieval mystery plays
Tour the medieval city
Hear a choir at Yorkminster Cathedral
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STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
Visit Shakespeare's grave
Tour Shakespeare's birthplace and learn about Elizabethan theatre
Visit Shakespeare's Schoolroom
Tour Kenilworth Castle
See plays at Royal Shakespeare Company
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BRIGHTON
See shows at the Brighton Fringe Festival and the Brighton Festival
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LONDON
Do an acting workshop and see a play at Shakespeare's Globe
Tour Elizabethan historical sites like the Tower of London
Go on an immersive adventure with The Gunpowder Plot
Learn history at the National Portrait Gallery
Tour backstage at the National Theatre
See a play at the Old Vic or Young Vic
See a musical on the West End
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WHAT COURSES WILL I TAKE?
Theatre in Europe, Past & Present is a six-credit study abroad program. Each participant registers for two courses:
THR 3531 Contemporary Theatre and Culture in Europe
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THR 3730 Early Theatre History and Literature **
There are required course meetings from 5:00-6:00 on Tuesdays during the SPRING SEMESTER preceding the program. You MUST be available to attend these meetings. A Zoom option is available.​
**If you have already completed THR 3730, you can register for a THR independent study instead and arrange some alternate assignments.
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WHAT WILL IÂ LEARN?
Quotes from participants
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"The most important thing that I learned on this trip is that I am capable of being away from home and stepping out of my comfort zone. I've always wondered whether or not I could travel to another country and feel comfortable there and now I know that I can."
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"In London, you really never know what kind of people you are going to see. Just in passing, I would guess I have seen more nationalities than I ever have in my entire life. Just in London, excluding all other places in England, I have seen and interacted with more people from around the world than I have with native British people. The world seems more accessible to me now."
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"In history classes we learn about things that have happened years in the past but it is hard to have concrete ideas until we see it. I know humans had been around for a long time, but seeing graves from the 1500s solidified this better than any history class on campus ever could have."
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"I was intoxicated by history at many points on this trip."
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"Writing papers and analyzing the plays after we saw and discussed them was very beneficial. My ability to analyze performances has increased so much."
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"I've been the most surprised by my newfound appreciation for more abstract theatre. We saw so many different kinds of theatre that all had so much substance."
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PROFESSORS
PAULETTE MARTY
Professor Paulette Marty has co-led study abroad programs for Appalachian State since 2008. In the Department of Theatre & Dance, she teaches theatre history, play analysis, directing, and dramaturgy. She holds a Master's degree in Renaissance Drama from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom and a PhD in Theatre and Drama from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As a student, she studied abroad in Greece, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
JOHN MARTY
Professor John Marty has co-led study abroad programs for Appalachian State since 2023 and has traveled throughout Europe. He is the Coordinator of the Design/Technology Concentration in the Department of Theatre & Dance and teaches courses on theatrical design, technology, and play analysis. He holds an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Get in touch to learn more about Theatre in Europe Past & Present.
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HOW DO I APPLY?
Preliminary applications for the 2026 program are due October 1, 2025. Once the leaders have confirmed you meet the requirements and determined if there are enough spaces for all applicants, they will clear you to complete the application. The application and $300 non-refundable deposit are due by November 1, 2025.
If there are not enough spaces on the program for all of the students who apply, priority will be given to theatre majors and minors based upon earned semester hours.
INTERESTED? LET US KNOW!
WHAT DOES IT COST?
PROGRAM FEE
Fee for the 2024 program was $4999. The program fee is "all-inclusive" and covers airfare, ground transportation, lodging, admissions to museums and cultural sites, tickets for theatre productions, workshop fees, insurance, and all meals.
TUITION
In addition to this program fee, each participant pays tuition for six credits of summer session (estimated $950-$1000), a passport, an international phone plan, and spending money (recommended minimum $250)
FINANCIAL AID
Because this is a six-credit program, students can apply for financial aid to help cover costs. Talk to the Appalachian State University Financial Aid Office about your options. Also, some study abroad scholarships may be available through the Office of International Education and Development.