Image credit: Asaf Sagi
The spectacular true story of how a Jewish acrobat escaped the Nazis by running away to join the circus!
Based on the true story of Irene Danner-Storm, The Escape Act – A Holocaust Memoir tells the riveting and powerful story of a Jewish acrobat who hid in a German circus during WWII to escape the concentration camps. Hard-hitting and inspiring, this historically researched and poignant onewoman theatre and puppetry production embarks on a UK tour this autumn.
The production follows Irene’s journey from Kristallnacht in 1938 to liberation in 1945, and her all too risky escape to the circus. It’s the story of how she fell in love and started her own family, all under the protection of the Althoff Circus. It is about the immense kindness shown towards Irene by the non-Jews who risked their lives to save her and inspects the devastating impact of the Holocaust on individuals and families who were torn apart.
The performance flits from past to present as it simultaneously examines Irene’s life under the Third Reich and the experiences of writer and performer Stav Meishar growing up a grandchild to Holocaust survivors. As Meishar tells Irene’s story it triggers her own memories of family stories, and she is compelled to face the past traumas and struggles of their history.
Image credit: David Konecny
A multi-faceted performance combining theatre, circus and puppetry, the performance is a
culmination of seven years of research into the lives of German-Jewish circus families between 1929- 1945. Using collected testimonies and interviewed witnesses, the production is brought to life by Meishar in an effort to document and commemorate the Jewish legacies.
Creator and Performer Stav Meishar comments, I felt compelled to make this work of historical circus-theatre in light of the current climate. With statistics showing 1 in 20 Britons disbelieving that the Holocaust happened …’
In addition, the tour is accompanied by a public talk about the history of Circus Jews in Europe
Between the World Wars; interactive circus and drama workshops for all ages; audience Q&As; and
more, which are all available to book in advance.
The Escape Act is produced by Dreamcoat Experience and Petite Mort Productions, and supported by
Arts Council England, The European Cultural Association, TelepART and The Puffin Foundation.
Title The Escape Act – A Holocaust Memoir
Running time 75 minutes
Box Office Tickets are available from individual theatre box offices.
Twitter #TheEscapeActShow
Guidance Suitable for ages 10+ (Viewer discretion advised)
Performance Dates
23rd -24th September Jackson’s Lane
269a Archway Road, London, N6 5AA
26th September Circomedia
Portland Square, Bristol BS2 8SJ, UK
26th – 27th October CircusMASH
2 Vicarage Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 7RA
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4311021
29th October The Lowry
Pier 8, The Quays, Salford M50 3AZ
https://thelowry.com/