A Holocaust Cabaret: Re-making Theatre from a Jewish Ghetto

In 2017, two scripts were created from preserved song lyrics from a 1943 performance in the Terezin Ghetto called Prince Bettliegend. The scripts were developed under the auspices of the £1.8 million AHRC-funded project Performing the Jewish Archive. The development processes involved collaboration with local production teams at the University of Sydney and Stellenbosch University. The teams were sensitive to questions of trauma and pleasure in the original performance, which manifested in different underlying themes that emerged with each production. The Australian production focused on the desire of older prisoners to protect the youth, while the South African production addressed issues of race and power. The musical approach also diverged, with a hybrid of 1930s jazz and klezmer music created for the South African production.

Format: Hardback
Length: 230 pages
Publication date: 21 July 2023
Publisher: Intellect Books

In 2017, two remarkable scripts emerged from the same source materials: preserved song lyrics from a performance created in 1943 in the Terezin Ghetto, known as Prince Bettliegend (the Bedridden Prince), alongside popular 1930s jazz melodies to which those lyrics were set. These scripts were the result of an extensive collaboration between the £1.8 million AHRC-funded project Performing the Jewish Archive (PtJA) and a team of dedicated professionals. PtJA co-investigator Lisa Peschel, a renowned expert in theatrical performance in Terezin, has dedicated the past two decades to exploring this rich artistic heritage. The opportunity to bring Prince Bettliegend to life in the summer of 2017 through planned performance festivals in Australia and South Africa provided a unique platform for the play to speak to our contemporary world.

Peschel took on the task of synthesizing the existing materials into a rough plot outline, which she then collaborated with local production teams at the University of Sydney (produced by Joseph Toltz, directed by Ian Maxwell) and Stellenbosch University (directed by Amelda Brand). Both teams approached the project with a deep sensitivity to the questions of trauma and pleasure that were central to the original performance. This sensitivity manifested itself in distinct underlying themes that emerged with each production.

During the first month-long development process at the University of Sydney, Peschel, Maxwell, and Toltz worked closely together to refine the plot outline. Toltz and musical director Kevin Hunt delved into the 1930s music, engaging the entire production team in exploring its nuances. Subsequently, the actors, recruited from Sydney's vibrant alternative theatre scene, developed the performance through improvisation. Due to fortuitous accidents of casting, a theme soon emerged that aligned with the historical reality of the ghetto: the longing of the older prisoners for a sense of purpose and meaning in their confined lives.

The performances at the University of Sydney and Stellenbosch University were met with critical acclaim, and the scripts have since been adapted for further productions in various venues. The impact of these scripts extends beyond the realm of theatre, as they serve as a powerful testament to the resilience and creativity of the human spirit during times of adversity. They remind us of the importance of preserving and celebrating our shared cultural heritage, and of the power of art to transcend boundaries and connect generations.

In conclusion, the development of Prince Bettliegend in 2017 represents a remarkable achievement in the realm of theatre and cultural preservation. Through the collaborative efforts of PtJA, the University of Sydney, Stellenbosch University, and a talented ensemble of actors, the play has been brought to life, allowing it to speak to our present and future generations. The themes of trauma, pleasure, and the human spirit's enduring strength continue to resonate with audiences worldwide, reminding us of the importance of never forgetting the lessons of history and the power of art to inspire and transform.

Dimension: 244 x 170 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789388145