Lights Up on the Dark: The Holocaust Onstage
Lights Up on the Dark: The Holocaust Onstage
Podcast Description
Blending performing arts and history, LUOTD delves into what it means to represent the Holocaust onstage. Co-hosting from London and New York, theatre historian Samantha Mitschke and actor Alexandra Gellner discuss all things Holocaust-theatre. Bringing their perspectives as Holocaust educators, the pair look at how theatre can help with teaching and learning about the Holocaust as they offer fresh and thought-provoking insights.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into diverse themes focusing on Holocaust education, theatre adaptations, and the historical context of performances, with episodes addressing crucial topics such as the cultural life in the Terezin ghetto, the representation of antisemitism in plays like 'Our Class', and adaptations of significant works such as 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas'. Discussions also consider the impact of these themes on current educational practices and societal perceptions.

Blending performing arts and history, LUOTD delves into what it means to represent the Holocaust onstage.
Co-hosting from London and New York, theatre historian Samantha Mitschke and actor Alexandra Gellner discuss all things Holocaust-theatre. Bringing their perspectives as Holocaust educators, the pair look at how theatre can help with teaching and learning about the Holocaust as they offer fresh and thought-provoking insights.
In this week’s episode, Sam and Alex look at two short plays for middle schoolers: Rescued From The Holocaust by Sean Price and Dr. Yanush Korczak by Alina Kentof.
As well as a discussion about the highlights, challenges and contemporary relevance of working with the plays, the pair explore the historical contexts behind each one. American diplomat Varian Fry led successful efforts in southern France to rescue around 2,000 people, both Jews and non-Jews; while Janusz Korczak was a Polish Jewish paediatrician, writer, educator and children’s rights advocate who ran a Jewish orphanage in the Warsaw Ghetto.
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Hosts: Samantha Mitschke & Alexandra Gellner
Executive Producer: Samantha Mitschke
Producer / Editor: Alexandra Gellner
Music: “Image” by Infraction Music
Contact: https://holocaustonstage.com/contact/
Episode Sources
Books & Articles
Anita Kassof / Holocaust Teacher Resource Center / Walter Meyerhof / Varian Fry Foundation, Varian Fry and the Emergency Rescue Committee: A Resource Guide for Teachers.
Arolsen Archives, Janusz Korczak. The man who set an example for educators.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), Holocaust Encyclopedia: Varian Fry.
Plays
Rescued From the Holocaust by Sean Price and Dr. Yanush Korczak by Alina Kent in A Teacher’s Guide to the Holocaust: Plays, Florida Center for Instructional Technology.

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