Performing Captivity, Performing Escape - Cabarets and Plays from the Terezin/Theresienstadt Ghetto

Performing Captivity, Performing Escape is a meticulously researched book that collects twelve playscripts written by European Jews imprisoned in the Terezín ghetto during the Holocaust. These works reveal the prisoners' engagement with and escape from life in the ghetto through performance, including cabaret songs, sketches, historical and verse dramas, puppet plays, and a Purim play. The anthology opens with an insightful prologue by novelist Ivan Klíma and contains a detailed introduction by editor Lisa Peschel about the pre-war theatrical influences and wartime conditions that inspired the theater of the ghetto.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 444 pages
Publication date: 06 July 2023
Publisher: Seagull Books London Ltd

A meticulously researched book that gathers twelve playscripts written by European Jews imprisoned in the Terezín ghetto during the Holocaust, titled "Performing Captivity, Performing Escape," delves into the profound depths of human suffering, fear, and resilience. Situated in what is now the Czech Republic, Terezín, also known as Theresienstadt, served as a concentration camp and a Jewish ghetto, where an extraordinary cultural life flourished amidst the darkest of times. While the children's drawings and musical pieces created in the ghetto have gained widespread recognition, the prisoners' theatrical works, although less known, merit equal attention and appreciation.

"Performing Captivity, Performing Escape" collects twelve theatrical texts, including cabaret songs, sketches, historical and verse dramas, puppet plays, and a Purim play, all penned by Czech and Austrian Jews. These works offer a captivating glimpse into the diverse ways in which the prisoners engaged with and sought escape from their daily existence in the ghetto. The anthology begins with an insightful prologue by novelist Ivan Klíma, who had firsthand experience of being interned in the ghetto as a child. Additionally, editor Lisa Peschel provides a detailed introduction that explores the pre-war theatrical influences and the wartime conditions that shaped the theater of the ghetto.

The array of theatrical forms collected in this anthology serves as a testament to the prisoners' unwavering hope and resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity. It provides a moving and profound reading experience for students and scholars of the Holocaust, shedding light on the indomitable human spirit and the power of art to transcend circumstances of extreme hardship. Through their theatrical creations, the prisoners not only found solace and a means of expression but also demonstrated their ability to resist oppression and maintain a sense of identity amidst the darkest of times.

"Performing Captivity, Performing Escape" is a valuable addition to the literature on the Holocaust, offering a deeper understanding of the cultural life that flourished within the Terezín ghetto. It serves as a reminder of the resilience and creativity of the human spirit, even in the most challenging of circumstances. By preserving and studying these playscripts, we can honor the memory of those who endured the horrors of the Holocaust and continue to learn from their experiences.

Weight: 582g
Dimension: 156 x 197 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803092027