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Drama retells 13-year-old girl's Auschwitz survival | |
(14 days later) | |
Actors have portrayed the story of Susan Pollack to more than 30,000 people in the drama Kindness | Actors have portrayed the story of Susan Pollack to more than 30,000 people in the drama Kindness |
The story of a 13-year-old girl who escaped death at Auschwitz by lying about her age is being retold as a drama. | The story of a 13-year-old girl who escaped death at Auschwitz by lying about her age is being retold as a drama. |
Milton Keynes-based theatre company Voices of the Holocaust is depicting the life of Hungarian survivor Susan Pollack, who was sent to the notorious Nazi camp in 1944 in German-occupied Poland. | Milton Keynes-based theatre company Voices of the Holocaust is depicting the life of Hungarian survivor Susan Pollack, who was sent to the notorious Nazi camp in 1944 in German-occupied Poland. |
A prisoner on the railway platform whispered to Susan that she should pretend to be 15, which meant she was chosen for labour instead of being sent to the gas chambers. | A prisoner on the railway platform whispered to Susan that she should pretend to be 15, which meant she was chosen for labour instead of being sent to the gas chambers. |
Eighty years after Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated, artistic director of Voices, Cate Hollis, said it was "apparent that survivor testimony was the strongest approach to help young people connect". | Eighty years after Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated, artistic director of Voices, Cate Hollis, said it was "apparent that survivor testimony was the strongest approach to help young people connect". |
Susan Pollack was 13 when she was taken to Auschwitz, but was advised to tell guards she was older | Susan Pollack was 13 when she was taken to Auschwitz, but was advised to tell guards she was older |
More than 30,000 people, including thousands of school children, have watched the play - entitled Kindness - and learned about Susan's story. | More than 30,000 people, including thousands of school children, have watched the play - entitled Kindness - and learned about Susan's story. |
On arriving at Auschwitz, she was separated from her family, with her mother being sent straight to the gas chambers. | On arriving at Auschwitz, she was separated from her family, with her mother being sent straight to the gas chambers. |
"There were no hugs, no kisses, no embrace. My mum was just pushed away with the other women and children. The dehumanisation began immediately. I didn't cry, it was as though I'd lost all my emotions," Ms Pollack previously said. | "There were no hugs, no kisses, no embrace. My mum was just pushed away with the other women and children. The dehumanisation began immediately. I didn't cry, it was as though I'd lost all my emotions," Ms Pollack previously said. |
The girl was moved to Guben in Germany to work as a slave in an armaments factory, before being freed by the British Army on 15 April 1945. | The girl was moved to Guben in Germany to work as a slave in an armaments factory, before being freed by the British Army on 15 April 1945. |
After World War Two ended, she discovered more than 50 of her relatives had been killed, with only her brother surviving. | After World War Two ended, she discovered more than 50 of her relatives had been killed, with only her brother surviving. |
Inbal Biron plays Susan Pollack, who said "a truer version of my story could not be shown" | Inbal Biron plays Susan Pollack, who said "a truer version of my story could not be shown" |
"The vast majority of pupils will never go to a place like Auschwitz to feel what the biggest graveyard on the planet is like, but this piece of theatre can bring that to every single young person," said Ms Hollis. | "The vast majority of pupils will never go to a place like Auschwitz to feel what the biggest graveyard on the planet is like, but this piece of theatre can bring that to every single young person," said Ms Hollis. |
She founded Voices of the Holocaust to create "best practise theatre designed as a springboard for Holocaust education". | |
She said as Holocaust survivors grew older, "they're all acutely aware they don't have a great deal longer to ensure the Holocaust is learned about, and learned from". | She said as Holocaust survivors grew older, "they're all acutely aware they don't have a great deal longer to ensure the Holocaust is learned about, and learned from". |
Voices of the Holocaust is fundraising to create a new production about Harry Olmer, who survived five years of forced labour | Voices of the Holocaust is fundraising to create a new production about Harry Olmer, who survived five years of forced labour |
Susan's story is not the first to be retold by Voices, which has been dramatising the experiences of Holocaust survivors since 2012. | Susan's story is not the first to be retold by Voices, which has been dramatising the experiences of Holocaust survivors since 2012. |
The company is working towards a new production featuring the life of Harry Olmer, 97, who survived concentration camps in Plaszow and Buchenwald. | The company is working towards a new production featuring the life of Harry Olmer, 97, who survived concentration camps in Plaszow and Buchenwald. |
Harry was one of 732 children taken in by the UK after the war, since most of his family had been killed. | Harry was one of 732 children taken in by the UK after the war, since most of his family had been killed. |
"One thousand were permitted entry, but so few children survived that they were unable to reach the quota," said Ms Hollis. | "One thousand were permitted entry, but so few children survived that they were unable to reach the quota," said Ms Hollis. |
"Harry recuperated at Windermere until going on to make a life for himself in the UK. His story is critically important and must never be forgotten." | "Harry recuperated at Windermere until going on to make a life for himself in the UK. His story is critically important and must never be forgotten." |
'Kindness' is being performed at JFS Theatre in Kenton, Harrow, London on Monday at 19:30 GMT, to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. | 'Kindness' is being performed at JFS Theatre in Kenton, Harrow, London on Monday at 19:30 GMT, to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. |
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