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Overview

Synopsis

The Kindertransport was a British rescue mission that took place at the beginning of WWII. Over 10,000 Jewish children from various countries were placed in British foster homes. Helga and Werner Schlesinger are parents faced with the difficult choice of keeping their beloved daughter Eva in Germany with them, or letting her become one of the Kindertransport children, who are sent to the UK, alone. When Eva arrives in London, speaking no English, and feeling very much abandoned, she is taken under the wing of Lil Miller. The play jumps back and forth between three time periods: 1) Pre-war - in which Helga tries to prepare Eva to leave her home and parents; 2) War - in which Eva is living in England with Lil, adjusting to a new country, and desperately trying to get her parents out of Germany; and 3) Post-war, in which Eva (who has now changed her name to Evelyn) is an adult, has a daughter named Faith, and has intentionally wiped most of her past and her Jewishness out of existence. Kindertransport depicts the agony of separating a child from her parents and wrestles with the consequences of that choice, an act of sacrifice that also wreaks devastating results.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1993
Genres
Drama, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
london, recent time
Cast Size
small
Orchestra Size
None
Dancing
None
Licensor
Nick Hern Book
Ideal For
Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Early Teen, Late Teen, Mature Adult Characters, Small Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Evelyn*

Lead

Female

Spoken

Faith

Lead

Female

Spoken

Eva*

Lead

Female

Spoken

Lil

Lead

Female

Spoken

Helga

Supporting

Female

Spoken

The Ratcatcher/The Nazi/Border Official/The English Organizer/The Postman/The Station Guard

Featured

Male

Spoken

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

Quizzes

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Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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