IB Theater Students Flourish in London Workshops
From October 8-11, a group of our Grade 11 and Grade 12 IB Theater students traveled to London to participate in the ISTA TaPS Perspectives program, an intensive three-day event that brought together young theater-makers from international schools across Europe and beyond.
Hosted at the Lyric Hammersmith Theater, the event offered a unique opportunity for students to explore the key components of the IB Theater course in a real-world context. Through daily workshops led by acclaimed theater professionals, our students engaged in creative exploration and critical reflection across five major strands:
Collaboratively Creating Original Theater with visual theater pioneer Ramesh Meyyappan
Exploring World Theater Traditions through Commedia dell’Arte with Cheryl Stapleton
Performing Theater Theory using lip-sync and physicality with Dickie Beau
Staging Play Texts via abridged Shakespearean work with renowned director Irina Brook
IB DP Perspectives with Helen Szymczak, connecting all work directly to assessment tasks
Students also attended two professional West End productions, Stranger Things: The First Shadow and Dracula.
Throughout the trip, our students demonstrated exceptional focus, teamwork, and creativity. They embraced challenges, supported their peers, and took meaningful artistic risks, embodying the spirit of IB Theater in every way.
Theater teacher Simon Williams, who accompanied the group alongside Ms. Amanda Gianniny, shared: “This was an outstanding group of young artists. They were engaged, respectful, and eager to grow. Their willingness to take risks and their care for each other made this a deeply rewarding experience for all involved.”
We are proud of our students for representing AIS Vienna with such professionalism, passion, and integrity. The experiences they gained in London will no doubt continue to shape their work back in the classroom and beyond.
