International Spotlight: Allison Diamond in England

Allison Diamond spent fall term 2012 in London, England, studying theatre through a program with Roger Williams University. A junior from Beachwood, Ohio, she is pursuing a theatre major at Knox and hopes to work in dramaturgy in the future.  Allison Diamond, at right, visits the Victoria and Albert Museum with fellow Knox College students Chloe Luetkemeyer, at left, and Emily Harvey, at center.

What was the coolest part of studying abroad?
We were able to almost completely immerse ourselves in theatre by seeing shows almost every other night. It was as if I were living a dream. When else will I get to do something like that? I loved living in such an amazing city rich with history and art and life.

What inspired you to study abroad, and why did you decide to pursue this particular program?
I have always wanted to travel and I knew that I had to visit London at some point in my life. The RWU Theatre in London trip sounded perfect.

Three other Knox students also participated in the same program, so it was a great way to go with some friends, but I was still able to make new ones outside of Knox. If you love theatre and want to visit London, I highly recommend this trip.

How did you learn about this opportunity? Did anyone from Knox play a role in helping you decide you were interested in studying abroad?
Elizabeth Carlin Metz, one of the theatre professors here at Knox, directed the program.

Describe your day-to-day experiences.
We would wake up in the morning and have breakfast in the hostel. Then we would head to class down the street, where I would be studying Shakespeare, English history, or musical theatre. Usually in the afternoon, we would go to a museum such as the National Gallery, Tate Britain, Dockland’s, etc.

We were free to go around town for dinner then meet up around 7:00 at a theatre to see a show. We saw shows almost every other night. On the weekend, we would travel outside of London. We stayed in York, Stratford-Upon-Avon, and Bath throughout the trip. On the way to and from London, we would stop in places like Stonehenge, Dover, Canterbury, Windsor, and many more.

Can you cite an example of how your in-classroom and/or out-of-the-classroom experiences at Knox benefited you as you studied abroad and traveled internationally?
The theatre classes I have taken at Knox thus far have laid great foundations on which I have been building through my outside-of-Knox experiences. This past summer, I interned with a theatre festival in Massachusetts and (with) all the theatre I was able to experience in London, it is unbelievable how much I have been able to bring to these experiences from what I have learned from my time at Knox.

How do you think this study abroad experience will benefit you in terms of your education, future career plans, personal development, etc.?
I hope to go into dramaturgy/literary management within the theatre. Seeing almost 50 plays has broadened my theatre experience. In addition, we were able to meet people in the industry and hear what they had to say about theatre.

My experience in London has completely changed my view of theatre and its significance in culture and society. I have a better understanding of where I want to find myself fitting within it, as well.

What did you learn?
I’ve learned how to live independently and travel on my own. I’ve learned immeasurable amounts about theatre and performance. I’ve learned about art and history.