SWT Tours: Special Interest Travel for All Ages

The BARBICAN is a unique 35 acre theatre complex
that features theatre, music, ballet, film and apartments.

THESE QUOTES FROM SHAKESPEARE DEFINES OUR 2 WEEKS IN LONDON DURING MARCH and OCTOBER 2013
OUR GOAL: TO TAKE OUR RESEARCH TO ANOTHER LEVEL ON one of our newest tours
“ LONDON THEATRE BEYOND THE WEST END”

Our London theatre research took ENEGRY, RESOURCEFULNESS, COMFORTABLE SHOES AND A BATTERY OF London based advisors. It helps if you have a son, Michael, as I do, to chronicle London with his great photographs boosted by his wife, Sandy’s enthusiasm. Check our web site: http://www.poshnosh.com/theatre/london-theatre.html for London slide show.

A 6 DAY FEAST OF LONDON THEATRE that Is guaranteed to widens your appreciation of the breathe of London theatre.

IF YOU HAVEN’T ventured BEYOND THE WEST END, YOU haven’t experienced LONDON THEATRE
HERE’S JUST SOME OF OUR RECENT February 2012 THEATRE EXPLORATIONS:

…CALDER THEATRE BOOKSHOP…IT’S A BOOKSHOP BUT ONCE A MONTH THEY DO A THEATRICAL
READING. I ATTENDED AN EVENING OF DICKENS…it’s the 200th anniversary of Dicken’s birth so
London is bursting with Dickens events. The Dickens exhibit at the London Museum is a must and runs until June 10, 2012.

Close by the bookshop and Waterloo Station are two revered theatres, The Old Vic and the Young Vic.
And the Old Vic tunnels theatre built underneath Waterloo Station. Tickets were sold out.

…THE GATE PUB THEATRE…there are many pub theatres in London, loosely attached to pubs. The
Gate is one of the most popular. We saw The Kreutzer Sonata, a compelling story of jealousy with innovative staging.

…ALMEIDA THEATE INISLINGTON…HAD A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING THIS THEATRE NOT BECAUSE IT’S DIFFICULT TO FIND, OUR MINI-TAXI Cab DRIVER HAD NO IDEA. The House of Bernardo Alba by Lorca starred well know European actress, SHOREH AGHDASHLOO. Apparently easy-to-understand stage names are not a consideration in Europe.

…ROYAL COURT THEATRE…WE ALWAYS SEE WHAT’S ON AT ONE OF OUR FAVORITE THEATRES THAT SPECIALIZES IN THE WORK Of NEW PLAYWRIGHTS. This trip we scored a Monday night ticket on line when all seats are just ten pounds. In Basildon by David Eldrige received rave reviews and the theatre is just across the street from our hotel.

…APOLLO THEATRE…WE DON’T IGNORE THE WEST END IF THERE IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO SEE.
THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE 111 WAS REMARKABLE WITH A THRILLING PERFORMANCE BY David Haig in the lead role.

THEATRELAND PRIVATE WALKING TOUR…THE HISTORY OF THE WEST END THEATRES. LOVE Cecil Court, a short alleyway street with a batch of theatre oriented bookstores.

The BARBICAN is a unique 35 acre theatre complex that features theatre, music, ballet, film and apartments.Took an architectural tour that chronicles the building process over the last couple of decades. I saw The Tempest here in Apri 2011l peformed by a Russian theatre group. Food at their cafeteria style restaurant is delicious.

Our hotel is admittedly expensive, close to $300 a day including VAT which has just been increased to 20%. If you are willing to pay that price it is well worth the cost. After all, this is London. Located in chic Chelsea, access is great with a tube stop right across the street. It’s not far from great shopping, Harrod’s and Harvey Nichols.

Close by some of my favorite restaurants.
We have stayed at over a dozen hotels in London
And have concluded this hotel offers the best value
And convenience. Of course, hotels like the Claridge and
The Dorchester are not even considered because of their lofty rates
Our alternate hotel is The Tower, an impressive 4*hotel built alongside the Thames
with lovely views and a nice river walkway that leads to the Tower of London.
Located in the interesting Docklands area with its impressive marina.
10 minute walk to the Tower Hill tube.

Price is about $70 a night less than Chelsea Hotel which is a big saving most people will want to take.

Taxis are expensive…if group wants to taxi both ways or one way to our
Destinations: costs are shared making taxis affordable

Play schedule
At least 4 plays in 6 days. Not possible to detail specific
Plays. Most plays have very short runs except in the
West End. Trust us to come up with the most varied and
Interesting schedule

If there is a specific West End play you want to see, for example,
War Horse, we can arrange.

Yotam Ottolenghi is more a take-out store than a restaurant. We favor its Chelsea location with only
One round communal table for sit down diners. Mostly vegetarian executed with incredible finesse and desserts that are masterpieces.

The Boundary…Terence Conran’s small hotel and restaurant. Conran has scaled down from over 20 restaurants to just two, Boundary in the Shoreditch area of the East End is a long taxi ride but worth the trip. Brunch there was about $25 for two courses. We splurged on the $13 warm madeleines dessert. Service was impeccable.It took the waiter a full five minutes to prepare my charcuterie plate.
Delicious!

Cost: $3500 includes 6 night Tower Hotel, single occupancy,no single Supplement. 4 theatre tickets. Breakfast,lunch not Included; some dinners are. Other activities in Itinerary are included.
Taxis on a shared basis. Price confirmed if you choose more expensive Chelsea hotel.