Though the academic year has come to a close, Theatre at Pennington took one final opportunity to perform on campus before heading to London as part of an Upper School experiential learning program. Known as the Theatre at Pennington London 2026 Troupe, fifteen students presented an abridged version of Shakespeare's comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream, in the Diane T. McLarty Black Box Theater Tuesday night in preparation for their trip across the pond later this week.

The educational travel experience allows students to grow in confidence and independence while developing their passion for performance and engaging in the highest level of ensemble collaboration. The troupe will perform at the LVS Ascot School in Windsor, Berkshire, UK, later this month. Located about an hour outside of London, LVS Ascot is a Round Square School, making it part of an international community of nearly 300 schools in 50 countries that collaborate on character education around themes of international understanding, democracy, environmental stewardship, adventure, and leadership and service. 

This past March, Pennington’s Teacher of Drama Suzanne Houston visited LVS Ascot and spent time with their director of performing arts, observing classes and teaching their Level 11 actors. She was also the guest judge for their House of Performing Arts competition. Houston is excited to return to the region this week with her Pennington students. The group will tour London and Stratford-upon Avon, take part in theatre workshops, and spend their evenings attending professional theatrical productions, all of which will deepen their understanding of classical theatre and performance.

“In London,” shared Houston, “the students will see a variety of performances at the National Theatre, Barbican Theatre, Globe Theatre, and on the West End, and even tour some of the backstage areas of these venues. They will also participate in a workshop with the improvisation troupe, The Banana Hut Gang, led by Pennington School alum Alex Magliaro '99.” As Houston explains, the itinerary is intentionally designed to immerse students in an intensive, performance-based experience that differs from their daily routines at home or on campus. Break a leg, Pennington troupe!