Actors From The London Stage
Actors From The London Stage (AFTLS) was founded in 1975 at the University of California, Santa Barbara, by Professor Homer “Murph” Swander and the renowned stage & screen actor Sir Patrick Stewart, best known as Captain Picard on TV’s Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Professor Xavier in the X-Men film franchise.
From Patrick Stewart's Making It So: A Memoir:
Later on, in the 1970s and '80s, Bernie [Lloyd] and I would tour the United States together, sometimes as part of a traveling educational program we put together with our actor friend Tony Church and an American academic, Homer D. Swander. Our group usually numbered five actors in total, with at least one woman in the mini-company. We traveled from one college campus to the next, spending a week at each, lecturing and performing - mostly to theater and English-lit majors, though we also visited some psychology and mathematics classes, whose pupils were often even more enthusiastic. On two nights of these weeks, we presented a staged performance of a Shakespeare play, operating on a shoestring, with just the five of us playing all the roles. It was a lovely way to spread the gospel of Shakespeare... ...Bernie Lloyd did several of these tours, and I came on as many as I could.
The AFTLS company ethos and mission is simplicity at its finest. Five actors take the stage, with minimal props and costumes, and direct themselves in a performance of a complete Shakespeare play, with each actor portraying multiple roles.
But the performance is only part of the experience. The company tours to colleges & universities across the United States twice yearly, with each tour organized and administered by Shakespeare at Notre Dame. Each company of five actors leads classes and workshops throughout the residency week.
The goal: to interpret Shakespeare’s text as a blueprint for performance, lifting the words off the page as Shakespeare originally intended.
"It felt like my classroom was getting bigger. My students clearly felt their creative minds expanding in the actors' presence." – Rebekah Maggor, Vanderbilt University
Upcoming Events
How does it work?
The AFTLS company tours twice a year, with a different cast on each tour. They arrive at your school on Monday, and leave on Sunday. During the week, they present up to 3 full-length performances of a Shakespeare play. They also teach classes and workshops throughout the week.
Read more about AFTLS in this article from the Irish Rover: "All the World’s a Stage, but these Players Come to Notre Dame"
For more in-depth detail on the residency week, download our Frequently Asked Questions, or watch the video below:
"Superior involvement, meaningful activities, and thoughtful feedback to the class. What expertise and energy they brought with them; we would welcome AFTLS back any time." – Donell Stines, University of North Carolina, Charlotte
I'd like to book a tour.
Terrific. Just contact Alliance Artist Management for more information on dates, rates, and availability.
I'd like to audition for an AFTLS tour.
AFTLS auditions take place twice yearly in London by invitation only. Email us today to learn how you can be a part of the AFTLS experience.
Touring soon:
- Fall 2026: Much Ado About Nothing
- September 7, 2026 - September 13, 2026: University of Notre Dame
- September 14, 2026 - September 20, 2026: Wellesley College
- September 21, 2026 - September 27, 2026 : Lafayette College & Williams Center for Performing Arts
- September 28, 2026 - October 4, 2026: University of Texas San Antonio
- October 5, 2026 - October 11, 2026: Kansas State University
- October 19, 2026 - October 25, 2026: Wake Forest University
- October 26, 2026 - November 1, 2026: RiverCenter for the Performing Arts
- November 2, 2026 - November 4, 2026: Pella Opera House
- November 5, 2026 - November 8, 2026: Fairfield Arts and Convention Center
- November 16, 2026 - November 20, 2026: Univeristy of Texas Austin & Texas Performing Arts
- November 30, 2026 - December 4, 2026: University of Notre Dame London
- Spring 2027: King Lear
- January 18, 2027 - January 24, 2027: University of Notre Dame
- January 25, 2027 - January 31, 2027: Rice University
- February 1, 2027 - February 7, 2027: University of Florida Gainesville
- February 8, 2027 - February 14, 2027: Susquehannah University
- February 15, 2027 - February 21, 2027: Clark College Foundation
- Februray 22, 2027 - Februrary 28, 2027: Ocean County College
- March 1, 2027 - March 7, 2027: University of North Alabama
- March 15, 2027 - March 21, 2027: Gonzaga University
- March 22, 2027 - March 28, 2027: Johnson County Community College
- March 29, 2027 - April 4, 2027: John Carroll
- April 5, 2027 - April 11, 2027: Hope College
Actors From The London Stage Board:
Founder
Homer Swander
Academic Director
Peter Holland
UK Liaison
Jennifer Winter
Founding Directors
Tony Church
Lisa Harrow
Bernard Lloyd
Sir Patrick Stewart
Associate Directors
Bruce Alexander, Natasha Bain, Peter Bray, Anna Crichlow, Matthew Davies, Caroline Devlin, William Donaldson, Richard Neale, Claire Redcliffe, Annabelle Terry, Michael Wagg, Jack Whitam, Jennifer Winter
Emeritus: David Acton, Gareth Armstrong, Tim Hardy, Vivien Heilbron, Paul O’Mahony, Evvy Miller, Michaël Palmer, David Rintoul, Eunice Roberts, Alison Skilbeck, Chris Staines, Lucy Tregear, Alinka Wright