Theatre Arts on London’s Stage
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.
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.
Sample Itinerary
Top Rated Activities
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 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.
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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
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
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.