Engl 290: F/ London Theatre Seminar 2014-15

Professor Melanie Blood

 

Meeting at JFK:

            Be at JFK 2.5-3 hours before 8 pm departure via British Airways fl 116, w/ passport, 2 bags (large to check, small to carry on) and personal item. You will have food and films on this flight at no additional charge.

            We will try to meet at check in, but donŐt wait; go through lines and we will definitely complete our group in the departure lounge after security.

            My cell phone is 585-727-1630. Get me your cell phone # in case we have trouble meeting up. My number will be active in London.

 

Packing requirement/suggestions:

1.     For the flights, pack 2 bags plus a personal item (purse, computer bag): Plan to have a smaller, carry-on sized bag you can take on the train to Paris. Plan to check one large bag on the flights, but do not plan to bring that one along to Paris. The smaller should fit British AirŐs carry on requirements, because the cost of checking more than one bag is $100 each direction. The larger should be below British AirŐs maximum weight, plus a little room for souvenirs on the way back.

From British Airways:

            CHECKED BAG 1 -  NO FEE    up to 51 lbs. Zippers must shut.

            CHECKED BAG 2 -  $100 pay at airport, $84 if you pay ahead online

      CARRY ON- 1 bag 22x18x10 in and 1 briefcase or laptop 18x14x8 inches max.

            Some restrictions apply

2.     Passport

3.     Student ID card (many, many discounts but only w/ card!)

4.     Health Insurance card

5.     Check your ATM card for fees and availability abroad; there is no fee on the UK side. Tell  the bank you will be in London and Paris Dec 28-Jan 14!

6.     Check your cell phone for plan in Europe. Most likely it WILL NOT function at all without adding an international plan, and it may be cheaper to buy a phone and pay as you go in England.

7.     If your phone doesnŐt work, youŐll need an alarm clock.

8.     I highly recommend you ask Santa for a pocket map of central London.

9.     It is generally warmer than Geneseo, but still winter. Pack accordingly. Average high temp: 49 F, average low 40 F. Forecast for next month in London area is slightly above average. It is unlikely to freeze at all, but it does rain/drizzle a lot.

10. You have free laundry in the building. You just buy soap. DonŐt overpack.

11. You can dress casually at the theatre. DonŐt overpack.

12. Bring walking shoes or boots; we will walk A LOT.

13. All Wifi devices, computers and smartphones should be registered w/ Acorn of London when we arrive, then you can use them w/o data fees in flats and classroom.

14. Obtain an adapter for electronic devices: you won't be able to plug in any American electronic device w/o an adapter; think of your computers, phones, razors, etc. Some devices also need a converter because the current in the UK is 220, not 110. Hair dryers, straighteners, curling irons fall into that category; even with converters, they are regularly destroyed by European electricity. There is one adapter you'll need for England and another one for France; generally they come in a bundle. Any travel store or a travel section of a dept store (even Target) will have these.

15. Pack a full dayŐs needs in your carry on, including clothes, basic toiletries, and medications. Luggage does get lost, but most lost luggage is brought to you the same day.

 

Your contact info in London:

1. Students

            4 Blandford Street, Flat R

            Marylebone, London W1U 4BX  UK

            Phone (from US): 011 44 20 7935 3540

2. Anne and Suzanne

            4 Blandford Street, Flat N

            Marylebone, London W1U 4BX  UK

            Phone (from US):  011 44 20 7486 6388

3. Me and my family (same building, entrance is on north side of block.

            14 St. Vincent St. Flat A

            Marylebone, London UK

            Phone (w/in UK): 020 3219 2078

4. Acorn of London Ltd - 19 Bedford Place, London, WC1B 5JA

Telephone number (w/in UK) 020 7636 8325

 

Tourism:

All theatre tours, historical and backstage, are pre-arranged and included in the course as requirements. This includes Tower of London and museum tours like V&A, British Museum, and National Portrait Gallery.

 

Those required tours donŐt begin to cover all London has to offer, and I hope you make the most of your time there. Here are my other favorite London sites; we can arrange full or part group trips or you can visit these on your own.

 

Additional London Tourism:

These are NOT required, though some are noted on our syllabus when we have another event nearby.

 

1.     Westminster Abbey                                            9.  Thames River Tour

2.     Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace            10.  Tate and Tate Modern Galleries

3.     Camden Town markets                                      11.  National Gallery

4.     The Eye of London                                              12.  Burrough Market (FOOD)

5.     St PaulŐs Cathedral                     13.  Walking Tour: ie Harry Potter, Jack the Ripper

6.     Cabinet War Rooms                    14.  221B Baker St – Sherlock Holmes Museum

7.     Namco Station                                                     15. Charles DickensŐ home/museum

8.     Madam TussaudŐs                                               16. Harrods Food Halls

 

Bus tours outside of London: you can see additional royal palaces, abbeys (as in Downton), historical sites, Stonehenge, Harry Potter studio tour, etc. Most leave from Victoria; you can book online (BE CAREFUL) or by phone.