Big Ben
London, England

Theatre Arts on London’s Stage

Arts & Culture

Dates

-

3 weeks

Costs

$7,350

Highlights

Daily activities and excursions

Hostel/hotel

Performance portfolio

Playwriting and acting workshops

Application Deadline

Enroll Now

Request Information

Dates

-

3 weeks

Costs

$7,350

Highlights

Daily activities and excursions

Hostel/hotel

Performance portfolio

Playwriting and acting workshops

Application Deadline

Enroll Now

Request Information

Overview
From the East End to the Globe Theater, discover the world's most iconic stages and write your own mini play!

Dive into the Performance Arts in London’s vibrant theatre scene, as you write and perform a collaborative mini play. Through expert-led classes, learn how to interpret texts, distinguish between theatrical styles, and take on backstage and acting roles in your culminating show.  

Meet actors, directors, producers, and writers. Get behind-the-scenes production tours of world-famous theaters and performance venues and learn about everything from lighting and design to costume and directing. Hit the town and see a range of high caliber plays and productions, from West End to Fringe. 

Take in all the culture that multicultural London has to offer. Cruise down the River Thames from Westminster Abbey to Greenwich, visit trendy boutiques, taste all kinds of foods from curries to fish and chips, stroll through Covent Garden famous for its street performers, meet local teens, and so much more. Experience life outside of London with trips to Oxford University and Stratford-upon-Avon, the medieval market town where Shakespeare was born. Don’t worry—we’ll make sure you still have time for the traditional afternoon tea and biscuits!

Why Choose This Program?

Explore

Have fun discovering London through theater and the performing arts.

Network

Meet new friends and theatre professionals. Build your own community.

Get Inspired

Collaborate on a your own play. Come home with the skills to put on a show.

Destination
  • London phone booths on street
  • High school student waiting for the Tube in London
  • London Shard skyline in light fog

The Destination

Welcome to London and its legendary theatre scene with 300 performance venues in the city limits.

Often called the “cultural capital of the world,” London offers a dizzying number of options for people interested in fine art, dance, music, poetry, literature, plays, and musical theatre. There are over 170 museums, 800 bookstores, 850 art galleries, and more than 17,000 music performances a year. London is especially renowned for its theatre quarter. The West End, or Theatreland as it’s called, attracts huge numbers of visitors to sell-out musical productions and plays in its 40 theatres.  

With a diverse population of over 9 million, London is a major global city where you’ll never get bored. There’s so much to soak in—the magnificent cityscape from the London eye; the many green spaces like Kew Gardens, one of London’s four World Heritage sites; the bridges, old and new, across the Thames; music, art, and markets in the streets; famous landmarks: Big Ben, the Tower of London, Parliament to name a few. And don’t forget the world-renowned museums—there’s one for every interest, especially yours! 

Cultural Awareness

CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in London.

 
Itinerary

Sample Itinerary

Objective

You will settle into your new community, embark on the journey of taking a written script through to performance, and evaluate plays you see at world-renowned theatres. You will start collaborating with group members on your own play.

Highlights*

  • British Museum visit 
  • Theatre Royal Drury Lane visit 
  • Explore Globe Theatre, Shakespeare’s iconic venue 
  • Learn about British music and food 
  • Workshop on forms, styles, and interpretation 
  • Oxford day trip 
  • Tower of London walk and Tower Bridge visit

*Based on prior year itinerary and subject to change.

Objective

Through working on scripts from different genres and time periods, you will learn to interpret, analyze, and synthesize ideas for presentation and evaluation.

Highlights*

  • British sports lesson 
  • Attend "Matilda the Musical" 
  • Trip to Stratford-Upon-Avon 
  • Tour of Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Shakespeare’s school room 
  • London landmarks views from a riverboat to Greenwich

*Based on prior year itinerary and subject to change.

Objective

You will continue to enjoy and analyze theatre performances and put your new skills into practice as you finalize your theatre piece in groups. You will stage your final performance.

Highlights*

  • "My Father’s Fable" play 
  • Guided tour of the National Theatre 
  • "Passing Strange" play at Young Vic Theatre 
  • Performance presentation 
  • Farewell party

*Based on prior year itinerary and subject to change.

Monday–Friday

Each day offers a balance between interactive instruction and cultural activities with time on your own, too. Morning classes and afternoon activities may swap places.

  • Breakfast at the hostel/hotel
  • Hands-on classes with expert instructors and theatre professionals   
  • Lunch with your fellow Global Navigators  
  • Out and about for a Cultural Activity or Workshop  
  • Dinner at the hostel/hotel or out in the community 

Weekends  

  • Overnight or day excursions to top sites 
  • Quality time with friends 

Check out the blog posts to discover more about daily life and excursions on program.

Housing

Hostel/hotel, shared rooms with other Global Navigators

Activities

Top Rated Activities

royal-dudry-theater-london.jpg

Production & Backstage Tour at Theatre Royal Drury Lane

The lights dim, the curtain rises, and you’re swept into the magic of the West End. Sitting in one of the world’s most renowned theatre districts, you witness expert acting, stunning direction, and dazzling stagecraft—all bringing a story to life in unforgettable ways. During your summer in London, you’ll experience multiple productions at iconic venues, but the Theatre Royal Drury Lane is a favorite for its history and grandeur. 

Located in Covent Garden, the Theatre Royal Drury Lane has been a cornerstone of London’s theatre scene for over 350 years, hosting premieres by Shakespeare, Noël Coward, and Oscar Wilde. Not only will you see a play here, but you’ll go backstage on a tour filled with royal scandals, ghost stories, and the birth of theatrical staples like moving scenery and pantomime. Walking the ornate halls with friends, you’ll marvel at the grandeur and share the thrill of standing in such an iconic space. This experience blends history, friendship, and inspiration, deepening your love for the arts and connecting you to theatre’s rich legacy.

globe-theater.jpg

Globe Elizabethan Theatre Play & Backstage Tour

The wooden beams of the Globe Theatre rise around you, an open-air stage filled with history and magic. As you step into the heart of this iconic space, you’re transported to Elizabethan London, imagining the captivated crowds hanging on every word of a live performance. Today, you’ll experience the theatre from every angle—exploring backstage and sitting in the audience to watch a play come to life.

On the backstage tour, you and your friends laugh as you try on period costumes and brandish props. You even get to step onto the stage yourself. The guide demonstrates Shakespearean acting methods—grand gestures and booming voices—and you take turns delivering lines like “Friends, Romans, countrymen!” with exaggerated flair. You explore dressing rooms and costume storage, imagining the challenge and thrill of putting on a performance here.

Later, sitting in the audience to watch a play, you marvel at the raw talent and skill of actors who perform without modern sound or lighting rigs in true Elizabethan style. Together, you’re all in love with London, with theatre, and see before you a brilliant and exciting future full of possibility.

Testimonials

What People Are Saying

  • "I learned so much about theatre and my love for it grew. You also get to travel and make friends with people who have the same interests and passions as you. It’s so much fun."

    Ella K., Global Navigator Alum

  • "This was an extraordinary experience for me as I was able to get away from everything and go do something completely new and discover new things about myself. It also made me feel more confident about what I wanted to accomplish."

    Grace B., Global Navigator Alum

  • "On the program I made meaningful friendships and dove into one of my passions."

    Noryan V., Global Navigator Alum

  • "Our daughter had a wonderful time in London Behind the Theatre Scene and gained a lot of knowledge about theatre and the people of London. Their culture and day-to-day life as well. Fantastic experience."

    Parent of Global Navigator Alum

From CIEE

A Day in Oxford

By Jeffrey Pufahl at CIEE

A day exploring Oxford and a night at the theatre!

From CIEE

7 Things to Know About High School Summer Abroad Housing

By High School Summer Abroad at CIEE

High school summer abroad is not just about teens exploring a topic in an exciting location. It’s also about finding a temporary home away from home. Read the 7 things you should know about our housing options.

From CIEE

How To Write a Great Scholarship Application Essay

By HS Summer Abroad Program Leaders at CIEE

Earning a CIEE Global Navigator Scholarship is a prestigious honor that can help you stand out for years to come, especially on college applications! Plus, these scholarships give hundreds of... keep reading

Eligibility

Eligibility

  • Participants must be 14 years old and above.
  • Program open to all current high school students: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors. 
  • For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our scholarship page.

For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

Application Fee

$25

Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition.  

More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations or contact us.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Program Summer Session I 2025 3 weeks Start Date End Date Costs $7,350
Program Summer Session II 2025 3 weeks Start Date End Date Costs $7,350

Ready to change your life?

What's Included

Interactive Classes

Housing

3 Meals/Day

(Dietary Needs Accommodated)

All Ground Transportation

(Once In-country)

Optional Flight Chaperone

(Flight Cost Not Included)

Pre-departure Advice and Orientation

Access to WIFI

(No international data plan or SIM card included)

All Cultural Activities and Excursions

Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection

24/7 Emergency On-site Support

Staff

Our Staff

Mark Simmons

Center Director

Mark Simmons has an M.A. in History from the University of Aberdeen and a postgraduate degree in Administrative and Information Management from Napier University Edinburgh. 

Program Leaders guide and support our High School Summer Abroad participants through every step of their program.

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