Southern Virginia University’s theatre program presents the touching play “Kindertransport” April 18-19 and April 24-26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center on SVU campus.
Written by Diane Samuels, “Kindertransport” is a powerful, emotional drama that tells the story of a young Jewish girl, Eva, who is separated from her family and sent from Nazi-occupied Germany to safety in England during World War II as part of the Kindertransport rescue operation.
The story of families being separated because of the horrors of war and brutal regimes continues in our time. As part of the cast’s preparation to tell this story based on real historical events, they had the opportunity to speak with a representative of an organization that works closely with modern-day refugees from around the world.
Ainsley Knight, who plays the lead role of Eva as an adult, said this was an eyeopening experience for her. “‘Kindertransport’ is a story people need to see because it is actively happening today,” Knight said. “There are parents who send their children away with people they don’t even know out of fear for their safety, realizing they may never see their children again.”
Savannah Wight, playing the role of young Eva in the production, agreed. “It’s sobering to realize that Eva’s story is still happening today in the lives of many thousands of refugees around the world,” Wight said. “The story of ‘Kindertransport’ is a living reality for these families and it will have a deep impact on their lives forever, just as it did Eva’s. It’s important we remember and appreciate.”
‘Kindertransport’ explores themes of identity, trauma, and memory, as adult Eva grapples with the emotional scars of her past while navigating the complexities of being a mother. The story also illuminates the profound impact of war and displacement on personal and family dynamics, the cost of survival, and the difficulty of reconciling one’s past with the present.
Joining Knight and Wight in the cast are Tess McGill (Faith), Brea Moore (Helga), Adell Wilson (Lil) and Harrison Walker (The Ratcatcher). Directing is SVU theatre professor, David Dwyer.
Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.com. General admission is $12, and senior tickets are $10. Concessions will also be available for purchase.
