English Chair Meghan Regan-Loomis Reflects on Faculty Grant Trip to the U.K.

It’s a given that most English teachers cover Shakespeare in their curricula at one time or another.

 

But how many of them have had the opportunity to see Shakespeare’s birthplace—in person? Or the Globe Theater? How many of them have seen the Royal Shakespeare Company perform one of his masterpieces?

 

Now, Rivers English Department Chair Meghan Regan-Loomis is among them.

 

This summer, Regan-Loomis was the recipient of one of The Rivers School’s faculty grants, which allowed her the opportunity to travel to the United Kingdom to scout some of the most well-known historical sites associated with William Shakespeare and his work. In 14 days, she journeyed from London, to Stratford-upon-Avon, to Carlisle, to Hadrian’s Wall, then on into Scotland. From there, she briefly visited Ireland before returning to England to visit Devon, which concluded her trip.

 

The major highlights included a trip to Winsor Castle and a Royal Shakespeare Company production of As You Like It in Stratford-upon-Avon.

 

"Stratford-Upon-Avon is an English teacher's mecca, as the place embodies both the history and the future of Shakespeare. Visiting reinvigorated both my love of the plays and my intrigue with how this genius evolved."

 

She also visited Westminster Abbey for the first time. “That was really cool,” she said. “All my favorite authors interred there, and seeing Poet’s Corner was really moving.”

 

Regan-Loomis said that one of the most gratifying moments of the trip was having the opportunity to visit Glamis Castle, the setting of Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

 

 

She said she will definitely use some of her photographs from the trip to inspire her students as they study the legendary tragedy. 

 

“Anytime you see the thing that inspired the vision," Regan-Loomis said, "it gets you to a different level.”