Student Blog: Studying Theatre in Europe

For the past four months, my home has been in the beautiful 19th district of Vienna, Austria. I haven’t stepped foot in America, or out of Europe for that matter, in over 100 days. As December begins, I’m entering my final two weeks as a student abroad. In this blog, I want to share what my experience has looked like and what it has taught me about theatre.

My typical week abroad looks very different from back home. For example, I don’t have classes on Fridays, which gives me long weekends to travel and experience new cultures. I frequently board a train or plane Thursday night after classes, on my way to a new destination. In between classes, I have large breaks when I try to explore Vienna. This has been especially exciting recently because of the Christmas markets that have opened all around town. Each day, I finish class by 4:15pm, so I have ample time at night to visit museums, walk around town, and go to shows!

Though I’m not in any theatre classes this semester, I make an effort to advance my theatre education, mostly through attending performances. I’ve seen plays, musicals, operas, and ballets this semester, all of which have been fantastic! It’s extremely interesting to watch theatre in a different country. They make different acting and design choices, and they have different restrictions based on the absence of AEA. The most striking difference, of course, is the language. Though I’ve seen a few shows in English or with subtitles, most of the performances have been in German. This adds a challenge to being an audience member that I don’t have in America. Sometimes, I know the plot, like when I saw Tick…Tick…Boom! and a retelling of The Christmas Carol entitled Miss Scrooge. This helps me understand what is happening, and often helps me improve my German! My German classes have also helped with my comprehension a little, but I primarily understand numbers and colors. 

Not understanding the dialogue can be frustrating, but it has allowed me to pay more attention to the design aspects. I notice how actors interact with the set, how the lights and sound impact the storytelling, and how other technical elements are used to advance the show. Their body language and inflections also help me understand the message. In Graz, I watched a show entitled Chronik der laufenden Entgleisungen, which told the recent history of Austrian politics. Though I understood few of the words, I could feel the actor’s urgency and the anxiety that surrounds contemporary Austrian politics.

In addition to attending performances, I’ve been to countless museums this semester. If I see an interesting piece or something that I think could inspire a design, I take a photo. This way, when I’m doing visual research for designs in my upcoming theatre courses, I can reference art I’ve seen for inspiration, rather than starting with Google’s overwhelming database. 

Has it been hard not taking theatre classes and not working on any shows this semester? Absolutely. Have I seen intriguing and experimental shows that have revived my creativity and shown me new possibilities? Absolutely. Am I excited to return home to create theatre and see my family/friends? Of course. Will I deeply miss Vienna and the people I’ve met here? Of course. Do I recommend you study abroad if given the opportunity? 1000% yes!!!! 

For the past four months, my home has been in the beautiful 19th district of Vienna, Austria. I haven’t stepped foot in America, or out of Europe for that matter, in over 100 days. As December begins, I’m entering my final two weeks as a student abroad. In this blog, I want to share what my experience has looked like and what it has taught me about theatre.

My typical week abroad looks very different from back home. For example, I don’t have classes on Fridays, which gives me long weekends to travel and experience new cultures. I frequently board a train or plane Thursday night after classes, on my way to a new destination. In between classes, I have large breaks when I try to explore Vienna. This has been especially exciting recently because of the Christmas markets that have opened all around town. Each day, I finish class by 4:15pm, so I have ample time at night to visit museums, walk around town, and go to shows!

Though I’m not in any theatre classes this semester, I make an effort to advance my theatre education, mostly through attending performances. I’ve seen plays, musicals, operas, and ballets this semester, all of which have been fantastic! It’s extremely interesting to watch theatre in a different country. They make different acting and design choices, and they have different restrictions based on the absence of AEA. The most striking difference, of course, is the language. Though I’ve seen a few shows in English or with subtitles, most of the performances have been in German. This adds a challenge to being an audience member that I don’t have in America. Sometimes, I know the plot, like when I saw Tick…Tick…Boom! and a retelling of The Christmas Carol entitled Miss Scrooge. This helps me understand what is happening, and often helps me improve my German! My German classes have also helped with my comprehension a little, but I primarily understand numbers and colors. 

Not understanding the dialogue can be frustrating, but it has allowed me to pay more attention to the design aspects. I notice how actors interact with the set, how the lights and sound impact the storytelling, and how other technical elements are used to advance the show. Their body language and inflections also help me understand the message. In Graz, I watched a show entitled Chronik der laufenden Entgleisungen, which told the recent history of Austrian politics. Though I understood few of the words, I could feel the actor’s urgency and the anxiety that surrounds contemporary Austrian politics.

In addition to attending performances, I’ve been to countless museums this semester. If I see an interesting piece or something that I think could inspire a design, I take a photo. This way, when I’m doing visual research for designs in my upcoming theatre courses, I can reference art I’ve seen for inspiration, rather than starting with Google’s overwhelming database. 

Has it been hard not taking theatre classes and not working on any shows this semester? Absolutely. Have I seen intriguing and experimental shows that have revived my creativity and shown me new possibilities? Absolutely. Am I excited to return home to create theatre and see my family/friends? Of course. Will I deeply miss Vienna and the people I’ve met here? Of course. Do I recommend you study abroad if given the opportunity? 1000% yes!!!! 

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