In May 2026, Professor TAM, the dean of the School of Humanities and Social Science, embarked on a remarkable 18-day study tour across Europe. The group consisted of ten students from the MA-TS Programme. The tour spanned five countries: Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen and Berlin.

GONG Yuqian

“European art, humanities, and theatre are never just words in books. They are living visual and street cultures embedded in urban colours, transport systems, and daily life.”

“This trip made me realise that European art, humanities, and theatre are never just words in books. They are living visual and street cultures embedded in urban colours, transport systems, and daily life. I finally understand Hans Christian Andersen and Henrik Ibsen. They drew inspiration from exactly this kind of roaming and observing.”

“Oslo was the core of our theatre study. In class, we used VR to experience digital humanities. Modern technology brought Ibsen’s stage scenes to life. We also saw a global map of Ibsen productions. His plays are performed all over the world, and the map keeps adding new marks.”

“At the Ibsen Library, I found an enormous collection of original manuscripts and research materials. There were so many valuable documents. I wished I could browse every single one.”

LIU Ying

“Exploring Northern Europe alongside classmates allowed for an in-depth understanding of the local customs and humanities of each nation and city.”

“Our next destination was Oslo, Norway, the highlight of the whole tour. We toured the University of Oslo and delved into Henrik Ibsen’s literary legacy and global influence at the Ibsen Museum. What moved me most was how the local university keeps updating its inheritance of the playwright’s culture by adopting cutting-edge technologies to help students engage with his plays. I believe this is the core of literary research: enabling contemporary readers to draw nourishment from classic literature.”

“Looking back on the journey, I feel fortunate to have joined this study tour, which is bound to become a precious memory in my life. Exploring Northern Europe alongside classmates is a far cry from packaged group tours, allowing for an in-depth understanding of the local customs and humanities of each nation and city.”

“I also thank our university for granting us this precious opportunity, which has greatly fulfilled our passion for theatre.”

Yeung Ping Kei Banky

“True cultural and dramatic understanding cannot be found in static scripts, but in a spontaneous ‘rehearsal of life’.”

“Six years ago, I had actually visited Norway by myself. Back then, I walked past the exact same streets and landmarks, yet I was entirely blind to the hidden narratives behind them; I saw the scenery but did not understand the context. This time, travelling with Professor Tam completely transformed the experience.”

“As a theatre practitioner and researcher, the absolute pinnacle of anticipation for me was our visit to the University of Oslo. Norway is the birthplace of Henrik Ibsen, and observing how this nation documents, archives, and interprets his monumental legacy was deeply inspiring.”

“Our intensive days in Oslo, bridging academic research with sensory exploration, visiting the Centre for Ibsen Studies, experimenting in their cutting-edge immersive theatre laboratory, and exploring the National Library and the Ibsen Museum, reignited my creative passions.”

“Ultimately, this journey reinforced a vital theatrical lesson: true cultural and dramatic understanding cannot be found in static scripts, but in a spontaneous ‘rehearsal of life’, where resilience, human warmth, and open exploration take precedence over all else.”

Chen Yuanxin

“Drama suddenly became alive. It was no longer a collection of cold, abstract symbols printed in textbooks; it became a living, breathing reality.”

“As a student of Theatre Studies, this journey allowed me to truly experience the genuine charm and power of dramatic art for the very first time in my life. When I was studying in the classroom back at the university, listening to professors analyze Henrik Ibsen’s plays or watching a performance of Peer Gynt on a computer screen, my understanding was vague, detached, and largely passive. However, the moment I actually set foot on the soil of Oslo, everything changed.”

“When I stepped inside the Ibsen Museum and stood before the very desk where he wrote, looking at the rooms where he lived his daily life, the historical distance evaporated instantly. At that precise moment, for someone like me who came from a non-theatre background, drama suddenly became alive. It was no longer a collection of cold, abstract symbols printed in textbooks; it became a living, breathing reality.”

“The extraordinary value and significance of this study tour represent a unique experience that I doubt I will ever be able to replicate in my lifetime.”

“This subtle yet powerful influence deeply affected me, showing me firsthand what the true cultivation, character, and dignity of a scholar look like.”

Ma Yidan

“The immersive experience was extraordinary: it felt as if I was sitting in the best seat in a theatre.” “Learning through seeing and listening made all the knowledge vivid and deeply rooted in my mind.”

“This European study tour was a feast for the eyes. Every day felt like wandering through an oil painting. ‘Soothing’ is the word that best describes this journey. The stunning landscapes always relaxed my mind and lifted my spirits.”

“Our short academic exchange at the University of Oslo was incredibly rewarding. The university boasts a comprehensive Ibsen archive with abundant digital resources and printed books, which still linger vividly in my memory. I also tried VR theatre for the first time.”

“The immersive experience was extraordinary: it felt as if I was sitting in the best seat in a theatre. I could even step onto the stage to admire the sets, creating a wonderful blend of reality and virtuality.”

“Learning through seeing and listening made all the knowledge vivid and deeply rooted in my mind. This fruitful and memorable journey has become a brilliant chapter in my youth.”

Cong Pingping

“It felt as if time had folded back, allowing us to hold a silent conversation across centuries with the great playwright.” “It felt as if time had folded back, allowing us to hold a silent conversation across centuries with the great playwright.”

“As a postgraduate student majoring in Theatre Studies, I was fortunate to join the university-organized study tour across Northern Europe under the guidance of Professor Tam. Immersed in the profound humanistic atmosphere of Northern Europe and Germany, I combined my academic expertise to delve into the origins and unique charm of theatre art in this region, gaining immense insights along the way.”

“Oslo, the hometown of the theatrical giant Henrik Ibsen, was the core destination of our tour. During our stay, we visited the Ibsen Centre and immersive theatre lab at the University of Oslo, the National Library of Norway, and the Ibsen Museum.”

“It felt as if time had folded back, allowing us to hold a silent conversation across centuries with the great playwright.”

“When characters and ideas from Peer Gynt, A Doll’s House, and other classics permeate every corner of the city, academic theories blend seamlessly with real-life culture. I truly realized that theatre has long become a cultural icon of Norway.”

“This study tour across Northern Europe has not only broadened my global vision but also helped me understand the roots of Northern Europe’s thriving theatre from multiple perspectives, including urban culture, universal art education, and living environments.”

Zhu Xiangjie

“Architecture is not cold stone; it is time made visible, audible, and fragrant.” “The humanities and social sciences teach us how to become a human being, not a replaceable screw in an efficiency machine.”

“We visited five countries: Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Germany. What truly left a mark was not just the itinerary, but three things: the beauty of century-old architecture, a different rhythm of life, and Professor Tam, who changed me.”

“Walking across Stockholm’s ancient bridges and along its lakefront, I heard the wind whisper through stone cracks, smelled aged timber and river water, and saw houses and churches that have stood for hundreds of years. Everything I heard, smelled, and saw together formed that beauty.”

“I finally understood why Andersen wrote his stories here and why Ibsen’s plays carry such deep observation. Architecture is not cold stone; it is time made visible, audible, and fragrant.”

“I finally grasped why we study the humanities and social sciences: they teach us how to become a human being, not a replaceable screw in an efficiency machine.”

Peng Qian

“This study tour allowed me to understand the intrinsic connection between European visual culture, street humanities, and theatrical art from a firsthand perspective.”

“Stepping out of the confined classroom and breaking through the limitations of abstract textbook theories, we conducted on-site investigations and immersive observations. This firsthand experience allowed me to gain an intuitive understanding of European urban landscapes, humanistic scenery, and theatrical cultures.”

“Ultimately, abstract professional theories were transformed into tangible practical perceptions, bringing me valuable cultural insights and substantial academic growth.”

“The intensive three-day academic study in Oslo, Norway, constituted the highlight of this tour, allowing me to thoroughly explore the origins and innovative development of European theatrical culture and consolidate the professional knowledge learned in class.”

“This study tour allowed me to understand the intrinsic connection between European visual culture, street humanities, and theatrical art from a firsthand perspective.”

“In the future, I will cherish the insights gained from this journey, continue to deepen my studies in theatre, draw nourishment from European culture and art, and transform on-site experience into motivation for professional progress.”

Wang Xiaoyan

“The grand theories we once discussed in the classroom suddenly found their warmth in this authentic space.”

“Our 17-day European study tour was far more than a simple sightseeing trip. It was a profound journey that allowed us to cross mountains, lakes, and seas, leading to a deep cultural exploration and spiritual awakening.”

“As drama graduate students, this collision between visual culture and dramatic texts reached its peak when we visited Ibsen’s homeland.”

“The grand theories we once discussed in the classroom suddenly found their warmth in this authentic space.”

Xu Wei

“This study tour gave me not just academic knowledge, but a new way of seeing the world and a deeper love for both scholarship and life.”

“The day after this jubilant celebration came the academic core of our journey: a visit to the Ibsen Centre at the University of Oslo. The Centre’s director personally showed us their precious collections, including first editions of Ibsen’s plays, research manuscripts, rare letters, and visual archives. To virtually touch the intellectual traces of Henrik Ibsen from over a century ago filled me with reverence for scholarship.”

“We also visited the Ibsen Museum. Standing in the apartment where he wrote his later plays, looking out at the same streets he once saw, I could almost picture him with his pipe, gazing into the distance as he conceived A Doll’s House or Hedda Gabler.”

“This journey allowed me to move beyond a purely textual understanding of his critical and austere style. I came to viscerally understand the social environment and psychological landscape that shaped his work, as well as develop a deeper emotional connection to his plays.”