Concordia Nebraska students travel to London to learn about literature and theatre

Providing opportunities to experience different cultures as well as a variety of academic disciplines is important to forming a well-rounded student. Concordia University, Nebraska students were recently provided an opportunity to travel to London for a week-long study abroad experience.  

“We wanted to provide an opportunity for students to learn about and engage with various aspects of theatre and literature in the U.K.,” said Professor of Theatre Bryan Moore. 

The March 6-15 theatre and literary study tour took the group through the streets of London as well as to places like Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon.  

The group visited numerous sites such as the birthplace of William Shakespeare, the Bodleian Library at Oxford and the Charles Dickens Museum. They were also able to take a walking tour of the West End theatres, as well as a tour that took the group through Oxford and showed them buildings and landmarks that were significant in the lives, works and friendship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. In addition, the group attended shows at the Globe Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the National Theatre.  

Junior Aiden Jenik of Colorado Springs, Colorado found that the study tour allowed him to expand his knowledge and learn about more than simply theatre and literature.  

“I am not a theatre major, so the theatre tours, the shows and meeting actors brought me to wonder. Talking with the professors helped expand ideas but also see what they are passionate about and learn things outside of the trip itself,” he said.  

Jenik also commented on the presence of steadfast faith throughout the trip. 

“Jesus was also a big part of this trip. He was in the conversations. He was in the prayers before we left every morning. He was in the joy and the grief. He was in it all,” he said. 

“Jesus was also a big part of this trip. He was in the conversations. He was in the prayers before we left every morning. He was in the joy and the grief. He was in it all.”

The group also had the opportunity to attend cultural sites and events such as the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace, an evensong service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and the British Museum.  

“It was the first time traveling overseas for many of us, me included,” said Moore. “We had students from various backgrounds and academic programs, which resulted in a range of perspectives during our conversations. It was exciting to learn about and observe the cultural and historical differences in England. I hope the participants can apply their new knowledge and experiences in the future.” 

Junior Ellen Klintworth of Seward, Nebraska, said that the trip was a mountaintop experience in her life, and that it was a way for her to connect what she’s been learning at Concordia to something she could see. 

“I was able to see many of the places I’ve read about in textbooks and connect what I’ve learned in countless history and literature classes to what was in front of my eyes,” she said. “My experience on the trip gave me multiple opportunities to reflect on my own life and what my vocation as a Christian will look like as I move forward.” 

Concordia offers a theatre study tour every spring, though this spring was the first international tour. The tours usually involve traveling to other United States regions during an extended break or weekly attending various local theatres in Nebraska and the surrounding areas. All Concordia students are welcome to participate. Students can register for the Theatre Study Tour class for academic credit.  

Students who participated in the study tour include:  

Emilee Price, Columbus, Nebraska 

Duncan Carrasco, Sidney, Nebraska 

Morgan Davis, Andover, Kansas 

Emma Fiala, Herculaneum, Missouri 

Adreanna Pronschinske, Rollingstone, Minnesota 

Aubrey Burmeister, Albuquerque, New Mexico 

April Abbett, Platte City, Missouri 

Joshua Nikodym, Grand Island, Nebraska 

Aiden Jenik, Colorado Springs, Colorado 

Matthew Kruse, Denver, Colorado 

Ellen Klintworth, Seward, Nebraska 

Rebecca Duerr, Joplin, Missouri 

At Concordia University, Nebraska, learning extends far beyond the classroom. Our study tours give students the opportunity to explore new cultures, encounter history firsthand and experience the global church in action. Led by faculty mentors, study tours combine academic discovery with spiritual reflection, offering a unique way to connect what students learning on campus with the world around them. These unforgettable experiences prepare students to serve with wisdom, courage and compassion no matter where God leads them.