From the Pit to the Page: Reading London Through Its Streets and Stages

The Global Lit in London group has completed our mini-unit on the markets of London, where we examined space and place in relation to culture and the diaspora. Students read essays and engaged in rich discussions on colonialism, gentrification, capitalism, class, and culture in a global city.

We began our canonical texts with Shakespeare, reading and attending a fantastic production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Globe, before turning to Dickens and Doyle to trace class power structures across different eras of London life. That literary lens carried beautifully into the theatre once more, where we attended a production of Oliver! and held a rich discussion on the exploitation of child labor — both as depicted through the characters on stage and as it exists today in the reality of young performers in the industry. Along the way, we also discovered the joys of flexibility when their professor accidentally planned an outing on a bank holiday — and when tickets turned out to be for the following day. I cannot thank our group enough for their grace and good humor as we pivoted and learned together the art of “going with the flow” when traveling abroad. On the bright side: we now know exactly what an English bank holiday looks like.

Enjoy our students’ perspectives from found street art at Leake Street Tunnel to their experiences with our Readings and London Theater interpretations of the works.

– Roy Jackson

From the pizzazz of Shakespeare’s Globe to the punk streets of Camden, London seems to have it all. After familiarizing ourselves with Act III of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the class joined a guided tour of Shakespeare’s Globe. We learned about the rich — and delightfully odd — history of London theater, and got to experience a piece of that history firsthand, standing in the pit for the performance itself. After nearly three hours on our feet, tired but buzzing with energy, bubbles and confetti rained down from the rafters as the show closed — a finale that made the experience unforgettable for every audience member. The cast and crew made absolutely certain this magical matinee would stay with us.

After a good night’s rest and a few pastries for breakfast, the class descended into the Tube and emerged at Camden Town station. Camden Market is historically rooted in punk culture, and that spirit was unmistakable throughout the streets — in graffiti tags, sweeping murals, and tributes to groundbreaking musicians. Alongside artisan crafts and market stalls, we discovered a handful of upcycle and vintage clothing shops breathing new life into older garments. Very DIY. Very punk.

– Nathan Anderson & Mireya Aleman

Rather than clinging to the original schedule, we adapted. We visited the British Museum and the British Library — two places that weren’t necessarily on our radar for the day — and found them both genuinely captivating. We were then given something even rarer on a school trip: free time. At first, that much freedom felt a little overwhelming with so much London has to offer. But it quickly became an opportunity to make the day our own. Today taught us that flexibility isn’t a setback; it’s part of the experience. Plans will change, things won’t always go as expected — and that’s okay. In fact, sometimes those changes lead you somewhere you never anticipated but end up treasuring. Sometimes the best thing you can do is let go of what you expected and follow where the day takes you.

– Montse Dominguez & Kayla Gibson

Following our visit to the Dickens Museum, we took the Tube to Piccadilly Circus and walked to the Gielgud Theatre for a performance of the musical Oliver! The theatre itself was magnificent. Once seated, we waited in anticipation — and the show delivered: dancing, singing, humor, and remarkable acting filled the stage. The production was absolutely incredible, and as we filed out afterward, the conversation didn’t stop.

– Jacob Near

Enjoy our Video Blogs

🎥 Dickens Museum — Don’t miss Igor Sapucaia’s video blog from our visit!

🎥 Dickens Walking Tour — Check out Kenna Rohrer’s TikTok from the walking tour!