Roanoke student learns Shakespearian-style sword play, acting during London Fulbright program

This past summer, Erin Keating '17, spent three weeks studying everything from acting to play production in London. 

Through the U.S.-U.K. Fulbright Commission summer institute, Keating studied at Shakespeare's Globe Theater in London from June 16 to July 4.  

While studying at the Globe, Keating worked on sword play and learned acting techniques with experts through workshops that taught actor's voices and movements. 

As her class project, Keating was required to choose a topic that she was interested in studying during her time at the Globe. Keating decided to research gender roles and the lack of female actresses in Shakespeare's plays.

Of the nine programs that the U.S.-U.K. Fulbright Commission offers for U.S. undergraduates, the Globe program is the most sought after and the most competitive. Keating is the second Roanoke student to receive a Fulbright Summer Institute award. 

While in London, Keating spent most of her free time seeing theater productions, 12 in all, and exploring the city. 

Keating, of Whippany, N.J., is majoring in Literary Studies and minoring in Creative Writing at Roanoke. After graduation she plans on attending graduate school to teach English. Keating also hopes to intern in the publishing industry with Scholastic Corp. or Penguin Books. 

"Studying at the Globe was perfectly tailored for me," she said. "I was able to study something I loved and am passionate about."

-By Allison Shannon '15

-Published Nov. 12, 2014