BWW Exclusive: Exploring the Theatrical Richness of London with NTI

The National Theater Institute Semester is a 14-week, credit-earning program, offering college-aged students intensive theater immersion at the two-time Tony Award-winning Eugene O'Neill Theater Center.

During the NTI semester, two weeks studying abroad offers exposure to the culture, historical beauty, and theatrical richness of London, England. As an ensemble, students train daily in Lecoq techniques, mask work, improvisation, and clowning with the internationally renowned theater company Complicite.

Additionally, students learn from a diverse roster of theater artists and see shows nearly every night. This semester's ensemble has just returned from their time in London where they saw: My Perfect Mind at the Young Vic, Sequence 8 at Sadler's Wells, Ballyturk at the National Theatre, Julius Caesar at the Globe, BalletBoyz at the Royal Opera House, Electra the Old Vic, Teh Internet Is Serious Business at Royal Court, and The Comedy of Errors at the Globe.

The below photo gallery brings Risk Again! readers along for the trip:

NTI trained at the Royal Shakespeare Company Studios with the internationally renowned theater company Complicite, 7 hours a day for ten days while in London.

Students gathered for class in Hyde Park.

The ensemble did some London sightseeing on the way to an evening performance at the National Theatre.

While in London, the students stayed in beautiful South Kensington close to museums, galleries, Royal Albert Hall, and Hyde Park.

NTI took a two-part walking tour of London with Michael Winters learning about the city's Roman roots, economic development, and literary and theatrical history.

NTI visited the Tate Modern, St Paul's Cathedral in the distance.

Scholar Richard Digby Day gave NTI a tour of the National Gallery and discussed the relationship between classical art and the theater.

Playwright Jake Jeppson (NTI Spring '05) taught his Aristotle class on historic Tower Hill.

NTI takes in the LonDon Skyline from the roof of the Royal Opera House. Those circular skylights provide natural light to rehearsal studios.

The NTI ensemble with Royal Ballet soloist Thomas Whitehead onstage at the Royal Opera House, the moment the lights came up!

Students enjoy being onstage at the Royal Opera House and exploring the set of the opera Anna Nicole.

Students admired rack after rack of detailed costumes during a tour of the Royal Opera House.

Royal Ballet soloist Thomas Whitehead and dancer/choreographer Alexander Whitley had a pre-show chat with NTI students before a performance of BalletBoyz.

Following a performance of Julius Caesar at the Globe, Michael Cadman led a Shakespeare class on the monologues from the play. The ensemble gathered in Hyde Park with the Albert Memorial in the distance.

NTI students had a warm-up with the vocal coach for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Nia Lynn.

Students explored using neutral mask technique during class with Complicite.

Bill Barclay (NTI Fall '01), Music Director of The Globe and first American hired by the iconic theater chatted about his time at NTI, career path, and composing for a production of Hamlet currently on a two-year world tour.

The NTI Fall 2014 ensemble returned to Connecticut's Eugene O'Neill Theater Center where they have 11 more weeks of intensive theater training in all forms of theatrical expression -- acting, writing, directing, design, movement, and voice.

Next week: NMTI in NYC! We share experiences from the National Music Theater Institute's two-week residency in New York City, training with the city's most exciting music theater artists.

To learn more and apply, visit www.NationalTheaterInstitute.org and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@NTIRiskFailRisk). Deadline to apply for the spring 2015 semester is October 20. Applications for MATS 2015 (fall semester) are due by March 20. Early applications are encouraged.