BA (Anrh) Theatr a Drama students enjoy LA masterclass with actor Rainn Wilson

Eight third year BA (Anrh) Theatr a Drama students are traveling to LA on Wednesday to collaborate with students from UCLA on a range of activities, including lectures and seminars with students of the Department of World Arts and Cultures, UCLA. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

These sessions will focus on their experience of speaking two languages. They will perform an excerpt from their course leader Sera Moore Williams’ play ‘Burning Monkey’, and will also perform their own practical work with Theatre Directing students from UCLA. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They will also participate in a masterclass by Rainn Wilson (The Office; Super; Juno) at UCLA, and attend a performance of Ameryka by acclaimed performance group Critical Mass, at the Shakespeare Centre, LA. Students will also visit Universal Studios, Hollywood and other landmarks. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A highlight will be a visit to the Chicano Studies Centre, where students will have the opportunity to discuss their experience of learning in Welsh and of bilingualism with students who share a similar bilingual background (but different in languages!). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The trip is based on the collaborative research relationship between Dr Lisa Lewis (USW) and Dr Aparna Sharma (UCLA) who are investigating a major four year research project on the shared history of India and Wales through performance and film. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​