Rubicon Announces Fall Theatre Tour To England

Participants will Receive the “Royal Treatment”

September 22 through September 29, 2015

February 24, 2015 (Ventura, CA) – Rubicon’s Theatre of Ventura’s travel program has earned a reputation for providing unique behind-the-scenes experiences that cannot be arranged privately. The company’s New York trips and the recent Chicago trip sold out within days of being announced. Rubicon has just announced the company’s second tour of England, with more incredible, once-in-a-lifetime offerings.

 

The 8-day/7-night package to England, slated for September 22 to September 29, 2015, includes round-trip air fare on Air New Zealand and ground transportation from Rubicon. Group members will spend their first two days in England at the four-star Arden Hotel in Stratford-upon Avon, a charming country town that was the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The hotel sits opposite the famed Royal Shakespeare Company, up the road from Holy Trinity Church (where Shakespeare lies buried), and within easy walking distance of the historical landmarks of this Tudor market town. During the two-day stay in Stratford, Rubicon guests will receive an exclusive backstage tour of the Royal Shakespeare Company, dine in the beautiful RSC Rooftop Restaurant overlooking the River Avon, and experience a production in one of RSC’s three theatres.

Participants continue their English adventure in the comfort of a chartered bus to London, where guests spend four nights at the luxurious Goring Hotel, a recipient of a Royal Warrant for Hospitality by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. (The only other hotel to receive such an honor is The Ritz). The Duchess of Cambridge, Katharine Middleton, spent the night before her 2011 wedding to Prince William at this hotel with her family, and it has hosted countless luminaries due to its reputation for extraordinary customer care.

In London, the group will enjoy two more shows in London’s West End. Potential shows include the re-imagined Miss Saigon and the acclaimed stage version of the Academy Award-winning Shakespeare in Love, however shows will be finalized closer to departure to allow for the booking of the latest and most exciting productions). Other scheduled activities include a guided tour of Buckingham Palace’s State Rooms and Gardens (open only two months of the year when the Royal Family is not in residence, giving an inside look at a rare “working palace”), an exclusive viewing of the Changing of the Guards from INSIDE Buckingham Palace gates, and a private Meet-and-Greet with West End artists to allow trip-goers to hear more about the inner-workings of the British theatre scene from experts. Group members will have plenty of free time to explore London with the guidance of the renowned concierge staff at The Goring and Rubicon staff.

Rubicon Co-Founder and Producing Artistic Director Karyl Lynn Burns and Development Manager Alyson Schuster Melling (who received her Master’s degree in the UK and was employed at the Royal Shakespeare Company for a year before returning to Rubicon) will accompany travelers.

Says Melling, “I can’t wait for this trip! I’m thrilled to share the charm of Stratford, and the wonders of London with the Rubicon group. This trip will allow our patrons some truly extraordinary experiences – every trip we put together we try to make incredibly special, but this one is my ‘cup of tea.’”

The cost for the tour package is $4,950 per person double occupancy, and includes a tax-deductible donation to Rubicon of $500. Travelers are advised that passports are required for this trip and that while the Goring and the Arden hotel have provisions in place for guests who are less mobile, many portions of this trip require walking and stairs, which should be considered when booking. 

To reserve a place on the trip, or for additional information, call Alyson Melling at 805.667.2900 ext. 237 or e-mail her at amelling@rubicontheatre.org.